Canada’s newly elected Liberal Party leader, Mark Carney, has sent a strong message to Washington, asserting that the country will “never be part of the US,” in a pointed rebuke of recent remarks US President Donald Trump.
Carney emerged victorious in a tightly contested Liberal Party leadership race, succeeding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who will remain in office temporarily during a transitional period.
Carney is expected to lead the party into federal elections scheduled to take place before October, where he will face strong competition from the Conservative Party, currently leading in national polls.
In his first speech as party leader at the Liberal Convention in Ottawa on Sunday, Carney tackled rising tensions between Ottawa and Washington, pledging a renewed focus on trade diversification and a firm response to US economic pressure.
“Canada will never be part of the US,” Carney declared to loud applause, emphasizing his resolve to defend Canadian sovereignty amid strained cross-border relations.
The remarks follow growing criticisms from Trump, who has accused Canada of contributing to illegal immigration into the US and has threatened to impose further tariffs on Canadian goods.
Trump has also floated the controversial idea of treating Canada as a potential 51st state—comments that have sparked outrage north of the border.
Carney signaled a hardline approach toward Trump’s trade policies, promising to maintain retaliatory tariffs until “the Americans show us respect.”
He stated, “New threats demand new ideas and a new plan. In trade as in hockey, Canada will win.”
Beyond the political rhetoric, US-Canada relations have started to reflect public sentiment, with American anthems being booed at sporting events in Canadian cities.
The economic and cultural friction is palpable, and Carney’s remarks indicate a shift toward a more assertive foreign policy stance.
Meanwhile, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has sought to distance himself from Trump’s style, telling reporters, “I am not MAGA.”
However, he launched sharp criticisms of Carney, describing him as a globalist more aligned with US interests than Canadian priorities.
“Working for Trudeau, Carney made Canada weaker and poorer. Working for himself, he made the United States richer and stronger,” Poilievre said during a rally on Sunday.
Carney responded swiftly: “Donald Trump thinks he can weaken us with his plan to divide and conquer. Pierre Poilievre’s plan will leave us divided and ready to be conquered.”
In one of his final addresses as Liberal Party leader, Trudeau warned Canadians of the growing challenges posed by the United States, calling it a “nation-defining moment.
“As Canadians face from our neighbor an existential challenge, an economic crisis, Canadians are showing exactly what we are made of,” Trudeau said.