Former central bank governor Mark Carney has won the race to become leader of the ruling Liberal Party of Canada and will succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister.
Carney will take office at a tumultuous time for Canada, which is in the midst of a trade war with longtime ally the United States under President Donald Trump and faces a general election soon.
Carney, 59, won 86 percent of the vote, defeating former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in a race in which just under 152.000 party members cast ballots.
"There is someone who is trying to weaken our economy," Carney said, referring to Trump, drawing loud protests from the party's rally, Reuters reported. "He is attacking Canadian workers, families and businesses. We must not let him win."
"This will not be 'business as usual,'" he added.
"We will have to do things we never imagined before, at a speed we never thought possible."
Trudeau announced in January that he would step down after more than nine years in power, as his approval ratings plummeted, forcing the Liberal Party to quickly organize an election for a new leader.
"Make no mistake, this is a nation-defining moment. Democracy is not guaranteed. Freedom is not guaranteed. Even Canada is not guaranteed," Trudeau said.
Carney has argued that he is the best solution to rebuild the party and lead trade talks with Trump, who is threatening additional tariffs that could cripple Canada's export-driven economy.
Trudeau has already imposed C$30 billion in retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. in response to Trump's tariffs against Canada.
"My government will not lift these tariffs until the Americans show us respect," Karni said.
Carney's victory marks the first time someone with no real political experience has become prime minister of Canada. He has argued that his experience as the first person to serve as governor of two G7 central banks, Canada and England, makes him the best candidate to take on Trump.
The prospect of a new beginning for the Liberal Party under Carney, coupled with Trump's tariffs and his frequent provocations about annexing Canada as the 51st U.S. state, has led to a remarkable resurgence in Liberal popularity.
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