Mr Justin Trudeau announced he was stepping down in January after facing calls to quit from a chorus of his MPs. Mr Carney, who also used to be the head of Canada’s central bank, emerged as the frontrunner in the contest as the country deals with the impact of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. He ended up winning 85.9% of the vote. (Photo: New PM Mark Carney).

During his victory speech, he told the crowd: “Donald Trump, as we know, has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell and how we make a living. He’s attacking Canadian families, workers and businesses and we cannot let him succeed and we won’t.” The 59-year-old will replace Justin Trudeau, who has served as prime minister since 2015.

Mr Trudeau announced he was stepping down in January after facing calls to quit from a chorus of his own MPs. The 53-year-old’s popularity had declined as food and house prices rose. Mr Carney will now have to decide when to call a general election in Canada – which must take place on or before 20 October. In 2013, he became the first non-citizen to run the Bank of England, since it was founded in 1694.

His appointment was popular in the UK after Canada recovered from the 2008 financial crisis faster than many other countries. Donald Trump’s tariffs against Canada and his talk of making the country America’s 51st state have infuriated Canadians. The American national anthem has been repeatedly booed at NHL and NBA games. Some are cancelling trips south of the border, and many are avoiding buying American goods when they can.

During leadership debates, Mr Carney argued he was the only person prepared to handle Trump. “I know how to manage crises,” he said. “In a situation like this, you need experience in terms of crisis management, you need negotiating skills.” The surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered the Liberal Party’s chances in a parliamentary election.

Courtesy: Sky News and Photo by AP