Chicago – March 15, 2025
Mark Carney has been sworn in as Canada’s prime minister, succeeding Justin Trudeau, as the country faces questions about its sovereignty from US President Donald Trump and a trade war with Canada’s largest trading partner, the United States.
Carney, a former central banker who has never held public office in Canada, is stepping in to confront numerous challenges facing the country, including leading the Liberal Party into an election to be held later this year.
In a press conference after his swearing in, Carney addressed Canada’s growing tensions with its southern neighbor head-on, saying: “We will never, ever, in any way, shape or form, be part of the United States. America is not Canada.”
Since taking office earlier this year, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada become the 51st US state.
Carney also said that he currently does not have plans to visit the US, though he said he will have “discussions” with the leaders of the United Kingdom and France.
Speaking to the country’s most immediate crises, Carney said that his two biggest priorities are “protecting Canadian workers and their families in the face of unjustified foreign trade actions, and second, growing this great country by putting more money in Canadians’ pockets, by ensuring that government spends less so Canada can invest more by building millions of homes.”