Mark Carney is poised to take over as Canada’s next Prime Minister after securing a substantial victory in the Liberal Party leadership vote. The former central banker has pledged to reset relations with India if elected to power.
At 59, Carney will step into the role of Prime Minister, bringing with him extensive financial expertise. He played a key role in helping Canada navigate the 2008 financial crisis.
Carney’s stance on India-Canada relations
During his leadership campaign, Carney emphasised his commitment to strengthening ties with India. Addressing concerns over US tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump, he highlighted the need for Canada to diversify its trade partnerships with like-minded nations.
“What Canada will be looking to do is to diversify our trading relationships with like-minded countries and there are opportunities to rebuild the relationship with India,” he stated.
He further stressed the importance of shared values in commercial relations and expressed his eagerness to improve diplomatic ties if elected.
“There needs to be a shared sense of values around that commercial relationship and if I’m Prime Minister, I look forward to the opportunity to build that,” he added.
Strained India-Canada relations under Trudeau’s leadership
Bilateral relations between India and Canada deteriorated significantly after Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in September last year.
New Delhi strongly rejected these allegations, calling them baseless, while reiterating that Canada’s leniency towards Khalistani separatists remains the key issue in diplomatic tensions.
With Carney now set to lead the nation, all eyes will be on how his administration approaches foreign relations, particularly with India.