Mark Carney will be sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister at a ceremony at Rideau Hall Friday after the formal resignation of Justin Trudeau, a source confirms to CityNews.
The newly elected Liberal leader has promised a “seamless” and “quick” transition. He has already been meeting with senior officials, including Canada’s chief of defence staff, PMO staff and Canada’s ambassador to the U.S.
Carney indicated Wednesday that he’s ready to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump if he respects Canadian sovereignty and is open to talk about a common approach to trade.
Trump has declared a trade war on Canada and continues to call for it to become the 51st state, a position that has infuriated Canadians. Trump has threatened economic coercion in his annexation threats and suggested Tuesday that the border is a fictional line.
“I am ready to sit down with President Trump at the appropriate time under a position where there is respect for Canadian sovereignty and we are working for a common approach, a much more comprehensive approach for trade,” Carney said while speaking to reporters at a steel factory in Hamilton, Ont., after Trump officially increased tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports to 25 per cent.
Canada is the largest foreign supplier of steel and aluminum to the U.S.
Canada responded with its own countermeasures. It plans to impose retaliatory tariffs of $29.8 billion starting Thursday in response to the U.S. taxes on the metals. Canada’s new tariffs would be on steel and aluminum products, as well as U.S. goods, including computers, sports equipment and water heaters worth $14.2 billion.
Carney is widely expected to call an election before Parliament resumes on March 24, but cannot do that until he has been sworn in.
Carney met with Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday for what was described as a “positive and productive” discussion about how to face Trump’s threats.
In a social media post, Ford said the two leaders agreed they need to stand firm and strong in the face of Trump’s threats, including additional retaliatory tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press were used in this report
