Mark Carney, the newly elected leader of the Liberal Party, will take the oath as Canada’s 24th Prime Minister along with his cabinet on Friday, according to a report by CTV News. Carney will succeed Justin Trudeau after winning the Liberal leadership race on the first ballot held on Sunday.
As per an official statement from Governor General Mary Simon’s office, the swearing-in ceremony for the prime minister and the Canadian ministry will take place at Rideau Hall at 11 a.m. EDT.
On his first day as Liberal leader, Carney met Trudeau at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss the transition period. By the end of the day, Carney assured that the handover would be “seamless” and “quick,” according to CTV News. In the following days, he has been holding meetings with key officials in Ottawa to oversee the transfer of power, both from bureaucratic and security standpoints.
Trudeau to Formally Resign Before Oath-Taking
Trudeau is set to visit the governor general on Friday to officially tender his resignation. Following this, Carney will take the oaths of office and allegiance before unveiling his new cabinet. Reports suggest that several key figures in the Liberal Party, particularly those involved in handling US tariffs under former US President Donald Trump, were strong backers of Carney’s leadership bid.
Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, has reportedly placed all his assets into a blind trust to avoid conflicts of interest.
Political Landscape as Carney Takes Charge
Carney assumes office at a time when polling shows the Conservative Party of Canada and the Liberals are in a tight race. Amid growing concerns about Canada’s relationship with the U.S., Trudeau will leave office with his approval rating at a 12-month high, according to recent surveys.
In his final speech as Liberal leader, Trudeau highlighted his party’s achievements over the past decade. Speaking at the Liberal Leadership Convention, he said, “I am damn proud of what we’ve done over these past 10 years for the middle class and the people working hard to join it.”
He also urged Canadians to continue striving for democracy, saying, “Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given. None of those happened by accident. None of them will continue without effort,” as reported by CBC News.
Trudeau Exits Parliament in a Playful Manner
After resigning, Trudeau was seen exiting Parliament in a lighthearted manner, carrying a chair and sticking out his tongue. According to political columnist Brian Lilley of the Toronto Sun, Canadian lawmakers are allowed to take their chairs when they leave Parliament.
“When any MP leaves the Commons, they are allowed to take their seat with them. I find it a great tradition, one that I support. That said, this is a weird photo of Trudeau leaving with his. Also, perhaps another sign of a looming election,” Lilley wrote in a post on X.
As Canada transitions to a new era of leadership, all eyes will be on Carney’s governance approach and how he steers the country forward.