Ottawa, March 10, 2025: In a blowout win, Liberal Party members have chosen former central bank governor Mark Carney as their new leader and the next prime minister of Canada. Carney, who does not hold a seat in the House of Commons and has never been elected, secured more than 85 per cent of the points — handily winning on the first count. He also dominated in all 343 ridings, showing he has Liberal support across the country.
Walking on stage to the song Crier tout bas by Montreal artist Coeur de Pirate, Carney told a crowd of cheering supporters that “everything in my life has prepared me for this moment.” Two months ago, I put my hand up to run for leader because I felt we needed big changes, guided by strong Canadian values,” he said.
“My parents were teachers, and they stressed the importance of hard work, of community and of tolerance,” Carney said.
Carney will become prime minister after being sworn in by the Governor General. Earlier this week, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expects the transition to happen “in the coming days or week.” Carney, 59, pitched himself as an outsider seeking the top job, happily telling supporters he’d meet throughout the campaign that he is proudly not a politician. In his acceptance speech, Carney promised his government will keep Canada’s tariffs on “until the Americans show us respect.” All proceeds raised through tariffs will be used to help workers, he said.
“We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” he said. “So Americans should make no mistake. In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.” Central to Carney’s pitch to Liberal voters was his time leading not one but two central banks in the G7 during economic uncertainty .
