Mark Carney, the newly elected leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, is set to take the oath of office as the country’s 24th Prime Minister on Friday, along with his newly appointed cabinet, CTV News reported. Carney will succeed Justin Trudeau after winning the Liberal leadership on the first ballot held on Sunday.
According to Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon’s office, the swearing-in ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. EDT in the Rideau Hall ballroom. Before his official swearing-in, Carney met with Trudeau at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss the transition period. Carney later assured the public that the changeover would be “seamless” and “quick.”
In preparation for his new role, Carney has been holding meetings with key officials in Ottawa and beyond. Efforts have been underway behind the scenes to ensure a smooth transition of power from both bureaucratic and security standpoints. A spokesperson confirmed that Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has divested all his assets into a blind trust.
On Friday, Justin Trudeau will formally visit the Governor General to tender his resignation. Following that, Carney will take his oaths of office and allegiance and announce his new ministry, unveiling his cabinet picks. Several key figures who played central roles in managing US President Donald Trump’s tariffs backed Carney during the leadership race, and some are expected to feature prominently in his administration.
Carney steps into office at a critical time when polls show the Conservatives and Liberals running neck-and-neck, amid growing public concern over Canada-US relations. Despite the close race, Trudeau is ending his tenure on a high note, with his favorability reaching a 12-month peak.
In his final address as Liberal leader at the Liberal Leadership Convention, Trudeau reflected on his party’s achievements over the past decade and expressed optimism for the future. “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 told the crowd.
Trudeau also urged his supporters to remain vigilant and committed to protecting Canada’s democratic values. “Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given,” he said. “None of those happened by accident. None of them will continue without effort.”
In a lighthearted moment following his resignation, Trudeau was seen leaving Parliament carrying his chair and playfully sticking out his tongue. As per tradition, departing Members of Parliament are allowed to take their chairs with them, a custom political columnist Brian Lilley of the Toronto Sun noted in a post on X.
Carney’s swearing-in marks the beginning of a new chapter in Canadian politics, as he takes on the challenge of leading the nation amid shifting political dynamics and evolving international relationships.
