Ottawa — Prime Minister-elect Mark Carney signaled a firm stance toward U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday night, pledging to defend Canada’s sovereignty while strengthening ties with partners beyond North America.
Speaking after securing a decisive victory in the Ottawa riding of Nepean with 63.7 percent of the vote, Carney said his first face-to-face meeting with Trump will focus on “the future economic and security relationship between two sovereign nations.”
“But it will be with the full knowledge that we have many, many other options than the United States to build prosperity for all Canadians,” he told supporters. “If the U.S. no longer wants to play a major role in the international economy, Canada will. Because this is Canada, and we decide what happens here.”
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Carney and Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday, agreeing on the need for both countries to work together “as independent, sovereign nations” and to meet in person “in the near future.”
Carney, a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, acknowledged in his victory speech that leadership demands humility.
“Over my long career, I have made many mistakes. I will make more, but I commit to admitting them openly, correcting them quickly, and always learning from them,” he said, adding that governing requires teamwork with cabinet, parliament, provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples.
Carney also warned about Trump’s repeated remarks calling Canada the “51st state” of the U.S. “These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never, ever happen,” he declared.
Opposition leaders struck a cautious but cooperative tone. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost in his Ottawa riding of Carleton, promised his party would hold the Liberal minority government accountable while seeking a new trade deal that defends Canadian sovereignty.
“As we stare down tariffs and other irresponsible threats from President Trump, Conservatives will work with the Prime Minister and all parties with the common goal of defending Canada’s interests,” Poilievre said.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who announced his resignation after a third-place finish, urged unity.
“Carney has an important job to do to protect our country and its sovereignty from the threats of Donald Trump. Tonight and every night, all of us here were on Team Canada,” Singh said.
Trump has not commented publicly since the election results were confirmed, but before polls closed he posted on his Truth Social platform urging Canadians to “elect the man who has the strength and wisdom” to deliver prosperity — if Canada agreed to become “the cherished 51st State of the United States of America.”
