Mark Carney wins Liberal leadership by a landslide

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OTTAWA — Mark Carney won the Liberal leadership by a landslide, garnering 86 per cent of the votes on the first round of votes, and is set to take the stage as prime minister at a time where the country finds itself embroiled in a trade war with its closest ally and neighbour.

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As expected, the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England easily defeated the three other contenders in this race with a crushing majority.

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Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland ended in second place with 8 per cent of the votes, while former House leader Karina Gould finished in third place with 3.2 per cent of the votes, only slightly ahead former Liberal MP Frank Baylis who got 3 per cent.

“I feel like everything in my life has helped prepare me for this moment,” said Carney in a measured victory speech moments after he was declared incoming prime minister.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that that the transition to the new leader “should happen reasonably quickly.” Carney will have to be sworn in as prime minister and is expected to appoint a smaller and leaner cabinet in the next few days.

Carney said he was ready to take on the fight against U.S. President Donald Trump, who is threatening to impose several rounds of tariffs, including on steel and aluminum later this week, in an apparent attempt to weaken Canada’s economy and sovereignty.

Carney called this the “most important crisis in our generation” but that Canadians “didn’t ask for this fight” but “are always ready when someone else drops the gloves.”

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“The Americans should make no mistake: in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win,” he added, referencing Canada’s win at the 4 Nations Face-Off last month.

Carney then pivoted his attention to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre which he could be facing in a general election in a few weeks’ time, should he decide to call one.

“He is the type of lifelong politician — and I’ve seen this type around the world — who worships at the alter of the free market despite never having made a payroll himself,” said Carney.

“Unlike Pierre Poilievre, I’ve actually worked in the private sector. I know how the world works, and I know how it can be made to work better for all of us,” he added.

The new Liberal leader also pledged to reverse some of Trudeau’s key policies.

“I am a pragmatist above all, so when I see that something’s not working, I will change it. My government will immediately eliminate the consumer carbon tax on families, on farmers, and small and medium-sized businesses,” he said.

He also pledged to stop the hike in the capital gains tax “because we think builders should be incentivized for taking risks and rewarded when they succeed.”

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Close to 2,000 Liberal supporters, many sporting their best red and white clothes, were amassed in a convention centre in downtown Ottawa where, three weeks before, Poilievre held his “Canada First” rally to respond to threats of tariffs and annexation from Trump.

On Sunday, Liberal supporters were also just as riled up and cheered loudly when the various speakers took aim at the U.S. president.

Former prime minister Jean Chrétien at age 91, had a clear message to Trump: “From one old guy to another old guy: stop this nonsense. Canada will never join the United States.”

Chrétien however joked that Trump has united Canadians like never before, and who suggested he might just propose that the U.S. president receive the Order of Canada.

“Just kidding.”

Carney will have to decide whether to call an early election before Parliament is set to come back on March 24. All political parties have been preparing for a snap election that could be called as early as this week or the next.

Before the event, Ottawa Liberal MP Mona Fortier said she and a group of volunteers have been working on the electoral platform to give to the new leader “so they don’t start with a blank page” and said they would be able to tweak it to their convenience.

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“The person who will win today will be receiving a copy of what we worked on thus far,” she told the National Post. “I wanted something ready, and we have something ready.”

Trudeau got some loud cheers from the crowd too when he appeared on stage to talk about his government’s accomplishments but also to send a message that his party should not be underestimated in the next election — now that he won’t be at the helm.

“It’s when we try to count us out that we, Liberals, show our true metal,” he said.

His daughter, Ella-Grace Trudeau, took the stage to say that while she would not trade the last few years for anything, she is “looking forward to seeing more of him at home and less of him online.”

“My brothers and I have shared our dad for the past 12 years. Now, we’re taking him back.”

National Post

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