Mark Carney sworn in as Canadian PM, says will meet Trump when ‘there is respect for Canadian sovereignty’

The new prime minister, who took the office after Justin Trudeau formally resigned to end nearly a decade in power, took the oath at the ceremony at Rideau Hall in the Canadian capital, Ottawa.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: March 14, 2025 09:36 PM IST

2 min read

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney winks at the clerk of the privy council ahead of swearing him in as Canada's next Prime Minister at an event in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Blair Gable

Mark Carney was officially sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister on Friday, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation with US President Donald Trump over tariffs that threaten Canada’s trade-dependent economy.

In a ceremony overseen by Governor General Mary Simon, Carney took the oath of office, marking a historic moment as the first Canadian prime minister without significant political experience.

The new prime minister, who took the office after Justin Trudeau formally resigned to end nearly a decade in power, took the oath in both French and English.

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Carney, a former central banker, has reshuffled his cabinet to prioritise US relations, moving Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc to international trade and appointing Francois-Philippe Champagne as the new finance minister, Reuters reported.

The new prime minister has taken a firm stance against Trump’s economic policies, vowing to maintain retaliatory tariffs on US goods “until the United States shows Canada some respect.” He has also rebuffed Trump’s repeated rhetoric about annexing Canada, stating he will only meet the US president when “there is respect for Canadian sovereignty.”

Efforts are underway to arrange a call between Carney and Trump in the coming days, according to Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.

With his minority government on shaky ground, Carney is expected to call a snap election within two weeks, a move that could determine Canada’s political future as tensions with Washington escalate.

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