“We need to differentiate between what we can change and what we cannot. And we can’t change Donald Trump”
In a landslide victory, Mark Carney won the leadership race, defeating his contenders by a significant margin. However, more than the overwhelming defeat of his opponents, what stood out was his leadership speech, which outlined a compelling vision for the country.
Carney secured his position as the next Prime Minister of Canada by collecting 29,456 votes, with 85.9% of the vote in his favor. Chrystia Freeland, whose campaign primarily focused on Donald Trump and her past achievements, finished second with 2,728 votes, amounting to an 8% vote share. Karina Gould ranked third with 1,100 votes and a 3.2% share, while Frank Baylis secured fourth place with 1,100 votes and 3% of the vote.
In a strongly worded victory speech, Carney emphasized the importance of unity and “people power.” His repeated calls for national solidarity in the face of both external and internal divisive forces resonated deeply with Liberal supporters, who cheered throughout his address.
Economic Vision
On the economy, Carney declared: “We will create new trading relationships with new partners and secure our borders. We will immediately eliminate divisive consumer carbon taxes and halt increases in capital taxes because builders should be rewarded for taking risks when they succeed.”
He added that Donald Trump had imposed unjustified tariffs on Canadian goods and disrupted the livelihoods of Canadians. “Trump has attacked families, workers, and businesses. When we are united, we are Canada strong. We are rightly retaliating with tariffs and will maintain them until the U.S. shows us respect and commits to free and fair trade. We will use these tariffs to protect our workers. The Americans want our resources, our land, and our water. If they succeed, they will destroy our country. In America, healthcare is a business; in Canada, it is a basic right. America is a melting pot while Canada is a mosaic. Canada will never, in any way, shape, or form, become part of America. In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.”
On Pierre Poilievre
Carney criticized his opponent, Pierre Poilievre, stating that he “worships at the altar of the free market despite never having made a payroll himself.” He accused Poilievre of prioritizing profits over the environment, saying, “Pierre Poilievre would let the planet burn.”
Carney emphasized that markets do not inherently create value—people do. “My government will make markets work for the people. Markets are indifferent to human suffering. If not governed well, they will generate enormous wealth for the lucky few while leaving many behind.”
He added that Canada must step up to support those hardest hit by American tariffs, calling it “the Canadian thing to do.” He warned that Poilievre’s leadership would leave the country divided and vulnerable to influence from Donald Trump.
On Donald Trump
Carney did not hold back in his criticism of the former U.S. president, saying, “We need to differentiate between what we can change and what we cannot. And we can’t change Donald Trump.”
Instead, he urged Canadians to focus on transforming their own economic policies. “Through unimaginable effort and speed, we need to implement economic changes that put more money in Canadians’ pockets. We can give ourselves far more than Donald Trump can take away.”
Referring to the economic challenges caused by U.S. trade policies, Carney described the situation as “dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust.” However, he urged Canadians to learn from these difficulties. “We are still recovering from the shock, but let us not forget the lessons we’ve learned.”
Closing his speech with a call for unity, Carney declared, “We need to look after ourselves and pull together. Together, we will emerge stronger than ever—because Canada is built on the strength of its people.”
