TORONTO – Former central banker Mark Carney will become Canada’s next prime minister as the country deals with the threat of trade war and annexation from U.S. President Donald Trump, and a federal election is imminent.
Carney, 59, replaced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January but remains the prime minister until his successor was sworn in in the next few days. Carney won the landslide, winning 85.9% of the vote.
Carney caused the crisis when he served as the Canadian Bank, and in 2013 he became the first non-citizen to run the Bank of England since its inception in 1694.
Opposition conservatives want to elect Trudeau, and their popularity has declined as food and housing prices rise and immigration rises.
Trump’s trade war and his talk about angering Canadians in the 51st state, who booed the U.S. national anthem at the NHL and NBA games. Some are canceling travel south of the border, and many avoid buying American goods when possible.
The surge in Canadian nationalism has strengthened the Liberal Party’s chances in the expected parliamentary elections in days or weeks, and the performance of the Liberals has been steadily improving in the polls. “We make this the greatest country in the world and now our neighbors want to take us. There’s no way,” Carney said.
After decades of bilateral stability, it is now expected that the vote for Canada’s next leader will focus on who is best suited to deal with the United States.
Since the campaign was announced in January, Carney has gained a recognition from cabinet ministers and members of parliament. He is a highly educated economist with Wall Street experience and has long been interested in getting into politics and becoming prime minister, but he lacks political experience.
Another liberal leader candidate is former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland. Trudeau told Freeland in December that he no longer wanted her to serve as Treasury Secretary, but that she could continue to serve as a key person in the Deputy Prime Minister and U.S.-Canada relations. Freeland resigned shortly afterwards and issued a stern letter about the government, which proved to be Trudeau’s last straw.
Carney is expected to trigger an election soon. The new Liberal leader will either convene one or the parliament’s opposition may vote with distrust later this month.
