Canada’s Liberal Party will announce Justin Trudeau’s successor as prime minister on Sunday amid a trade war with the U.S. Front-runner Mark Carney faces Chrystia Freeland in the race, with key economic and political challenges ahead, including a possible early election.
Canada's Liberal Party will on Sunday announce Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's successor as both party chief and head of the country's government in the midst of a trade war with the United States that could cripple the Canadian economy.
The next prime minister will have to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump as he threatens additional tariffs on Canada and may soon face the opposition Conservatives in a general election.
Trudeau announced in January he would step down after more than nine years in power as his approval rating plummeted, forcing the ruling Liberal Party to run a quick contest to replace him.
"Is it ideal in a circumstance of bilateral crisis for us? I suppose not," said Drew Fagan, a professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. "But on the other hand, the process is playing out domestically as it should."
Former central banker Mark Carney is the front-runner, with the most endorsements from party members and the most money raised among the four Liberal candidates.
Around two-thirds of Trudeau's cabinet publicly back Carney, and a Mainstreet poll in late February showed Carney with 43% support among Liberals compared to 31% for his main rival, former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Freeland has touted her experience negotiating with Trump during his first term but has struggled to differentiate herself from Trudeau after being one of his most loyal supporters for years.
She left his government in December after Trudeau tried to replace her, and she criticized his government's spending policies.
A victory for Carney, 59, would be the first time an outsider with no real political background has become Canadian prime minister.
Carney has said his experience as the first person to serve as the governor of two central banks - Canada and England - meant he was the best candidate to deal with Trump.
Some 400,000 Liberal members were eligible to cast their votes for party leader. The party is due to announce the first round of results at about 6:30 p.m. (2230 GMT).
During the campaign, Carney said he supported dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs against the United States and a coordinated strategy to boost investment. He has repeatedly complained that Canada's growth under Trudeau was not good enough.
The prospect of a fresh start for the Liberal Party under Carney, combined with Trump's tariffs and his repeated taunts to annex Canada as the 51st U.S. state, led to a remarkable revival of Liberal fortunes.
'RALLY AROUND THE FLAG MOMENT'
At the start of 2025 the party trailed by 20 or more points but is now statistically tied with the official opposition Conservatives in several polls.
"There is a rallying around the flag moment that we would never have predicted a year ago," said University of British Columbia politics professor Richard Johnston.
"I think it's probably true as we speak that the Liberals have been saved from oblivion."
Regardless of who wins, the next prime minister has important decisions to make right away. The minority Liberal government may face a confidence vote when Parliament reconvenes at the end of March, potentially triggering an election.
He or she may therefore decide to call an immediate election, avoiding the trouble of having to put together a cabinet. An election must be called no later than October 20.
Polls though indicate neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives would be able to form a majority government.
Carney could legally serve as prime minister without a seat in the House of Commons but tradition dictates he should seek to win one as soon as possible.
In 1984, John Turner was not a legislator when he became prime minister after winning a Liberal leadership race.
In his first official visit to Washington, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney firmly dismissed US President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks about annexing Canada, declaring during their meeting: “Canada is not for sale.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at a major announcement later this week, without offering any details, during a wide-ranging Oval Office exchange with Canadian leader Mark Carney.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she will hold a referendum on provincial separation in 2026 if citizens collect enough petition signatures, amid growing dissatisfaction with federal policies and calls for greater provincial autonomy.
The Canadian government has updated its travel advisory for France, warning citizens to exercise a “high degree of caution” due to an elevated threat of terrorism, according to a statement issued on Monday.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Washington ahead of a closely watched meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, as tensions rise following Trump's revived remarks suggesting Canada could become the 51st U.S. state.
Explosions were heard in Rawalpindi and Islamabad around 2:30 a.m. local time as a ballistic missile attack targeting Nur Khan Airbase was intercepted, according to Pakistani security sources.
The Pakistan military has alleged that India fired six ballistic missiles that fell within its own borders.
A diver has died during early recovery operations for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s sunken superyacht off the coast of northern Sicily, Italian police confirmed Friday.
A fire on a British Airways Boeing 777 at Gatwick Airport last June was caused by a co-pilot mixing up his left and right hands during take-off, according to a report by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
High tariffs are expected to remain a core feature of Donald Trump's trade policy even after new trade agreements are reached, according to several current and former advisers who spoke with Reuters.
India has fired a series of missiles into Pakistani-controlled territory, in what it has described as “Operation Sindoor”
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen to lead the Catholic Church, as Cardinal Robert Prevost is named pope.
Discover every major VE Day 80 event in Britain, 5‑8 May 2025—from London’s parade and fly‑past to street parties, concerts and museum exhibitions.
Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has announced it will no longer sell goods directly from China to U.S. customers, shifting instead to U.S.-based sellers amid the closure of a long-criticized customs loophole.
A Rafale fighter jet operated by the Indian Air Force has reportedly been shot down for the first time in combat, according to sources cited by CNN, marking a significant and symbolic development in the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan.
A fragment of the Soviet spacecraft Kosmos 482, launched in 1972, is expected to crash back to Earth between 9 and 10 May, according to space agencies monitoring its re-entry.
FIFA has approved a major expansion of the Women’s World Cup, increasing the number of participating teams to 48 starting from the 2031 edition.
Mexico is suing Google for disregarding repeated requests to stop referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for U.S. users on Google Maps.
Explosions were heard in Rawalpindi and Islamabad around 2:30 a.m. local time as a ballistic missile attack targeting Nur Khan Airbase was intercepted, according to Pakistani security sources.
The Pakistan military has alleged that India fired six ballistic missiles that fell within its own borders.
Explosions were heard in Rawalpindi and Islamabad around 2:30 a.m. local time as a ballistic missile attack targeting Nur Khan Airbase was intercepted, according to Pakistani security sources.
The Pakistan military has alleged that India fired six ballistic missiles that fell within its own borders.
A diver has died during early recovery operations for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s sunken superyacht off the coast of northern Sicily, Italian police confirmed Friday.
A fire on a British Airways Boeing 777 at Gatwick Airport last June was caused by a co-pilot mixing up his left and right hands during take-off, according to a report by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
High tariffs are expected to remain a core feature of Donald Trump's trade policy even after new trade agreements are reached, according to several current and former advisers who spoke with Reuters.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment