Justin Trudeau says Canada faces ‘existential challenge’ from ‘neighbour’ US – World News

Former Bank of England boss Mark Carney has won the Liberal leadership race in Canada to become the country’s new Prime Minister, replacing Justin Trudeau

The outgoing Prime Minister of Canada has warned his country faces an “existential challenge” from their US neighbours in his farewell speech.

The country’s governing Liberal Party has tonight elected former Bank of England boss Mark Carney as the replacement for Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January. In the wake of the result, Mr Trudeau gave a farewell speech in front of supporters in which he warned they faced an “existential challenge” from their neighbour – the US under Donald Trump.

It comes amid angst caused by Trump’s trade war and his talk of making Canada “the 51st US. state”. Mr Trudeau said: “The last years, these past ten years, have been challenging. Crisis after crisis has been thrown at Canadians.

“But through every crisis Canadians have shown who they are. We’ve pulled together, we’ve stood up for each other and every single time we’ve emerged even stronger.

“Now, as Canadians face from our neighbour an existential challenge, an economic crisis, Canadians are showing exactly what we are made of.”

Trump’s actions and words has infuriated Canadians, who have been heard loudly booing the American anthem at NHL and NBA games. Some are cancelling trips south of the border, and many are avoiding buying American goods.

Mr Carney also hit out at Trump in his speech after his landslide win as the Liberal party’s new leader – and Canada’s new Prime Minister. The 59-year-old said: “There is someone who is trying to weaken our economy.

“Donald Trump, as we know, has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell and how we make a living. He’s attacking Canadian families, workers and businesses and we cannot let him succeed and we won’t.”

Trudeau announced his resignation from outside his home at Rideau Cottage, near the Canadian capital Ottawa. He had enjoyed high approval ratings after his Liberal Party swept to power in November 2015, and went on to win re-election twice in 2019 and 2021.

In recent years he has become widely unpopular in recent years over a wide range of issues, including the high cost of living and rising inflation. As Prime Minister, he legalised cannabis and brought in a carbon tax intended to fight climate change. He also oversaw a large increase in migration following the country’s emergence from the Covid pandemic, intended to fill gaps in the labour market.