Summary

Media caption,

Canada's new prime minister: 'We will never' be part of the US

  1. Poilievre questions Carney's vow to scrap the Carbon Taxpublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time

    Conservative leader Poilievre accuses Carney of not being sincere in wanting to abolish the Carbon Tax - a divisive carbon pricing programme in Canada implemented by the Trudeau government.

    "He cannot really abolish it because the law that created it is still in effect," Poilievre says.

    "If he wants to abolish it he has to recall parliament and hold a vote in order to get rid of that legislation."

    He says Carney is not willing to take that step, and claims he will instead hide the Carbon Tax from Canadians by temporarily not collecting it in the coming months.

    Poilievre also says that Carney has historically been supportive of the Carbon Tax. "You believe they're not going to bring it back two days after the election?"

  2. Poilievre says he will 'face off' against Trump if he becomes PMpublished at 18:52 Greenwich Mean Time

    Pierre PoilievreImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Pierre Poilievre speaks on 4 March 2025

    Poilievre is now accusing Carney of wanting to instate a "shadow carbon tax" that would affect the lives of everyday Canadians.

    "It will destroy our industries if Mr Carney has a chance to do so. Rather than supporting our economy."

    Poilievre also claims that as leader, he would "face off against President Trump directly, respond with counter tariffs and take back control".

    He adds a Conservative government would cut spending and taxes, protect Canada's borders, develop natural resources and build pipelines, and protect the country from any threats to its sovereignty.

    The Conservative leader is speaking now in English, making the same points he made moments ago in French.

  3. Poilievre says Liberals don't deserve another termpublished at 18:49 Greenwich Mean Time

    Poilievre is continuing his attacks on the Liberal Party, claiming the party made Canada weaker in relation to the US.

    Giving the Liberals yet another term would not change anything, he claims, adding they have already had three terms to improve affordability in the country.

    He says with another Liberal Party term, Canada risks more debt, rising costs of energy and increasing dependence on the US.

    As a reminder, Canada is set to have a federal election this year and both Carney and Poilievre have used statements today to make political attacks against each other.

    You can watch Poilievre's remarks in English live at the top of this page

  4. Poilievre says Carney's Liberals are no different than Trudeau'spublished at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time

    Poilievre also criticises the new cabinet, saying it is comprised of the same Liberal ministers and advisors that worked under former PM Justin Trudeau, and adds that they are delivering the same promises.

    "It will be the same Liberal results," he says, criticising the party for increasing Canada's debt, the cost of housing, lines at foodbanks and for making Canada more dependent on the US.

  5. Conservative Party leader takes jab at new PMpublished at 18:43 Greenwich Mean Time

    Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre starts off by wishing farewell to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He says it is time to take back control of the economy, strengthen the country's border and the military.

    He says it's time to become a stronger, more independent and sovereign country.

    Poilievre brings up a controversy involving the headquarters move of the company that Mark Carney previously worked at - Brookfield Asset Management - from Toronto to New York three months ago.

    "Mr Carney did exactly what Mr Trump wanted," Poilievre says.

  6. Opposition leader speaks to mediapublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time

    Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre is now speaking, in response to Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech earlier today.

    Stick with us, we'll bring the latest as it happens.

  7. Bloc Québecois leader wonders who will 'be speaking for Quebec'published at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time

    Yves-Francois Blanchet, the leader of Bloc Québecois, is now speaking to reporters.

    He says the new set of ministers are there to "send a message" to Canadians, and collaborating with them will be important.

    But Blanchet says he has "the right to wonder who exactly will be speaking for Quebec".

  8. NDP says there is no place for progressive Liberals under Mark Carneypublished at 18:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    Jagmeet SinghImage source, Getty Images

    Reacting to the new cabinet, leader of the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh says Mark Carney is sending a message to progressive Liberals that there is no room for them in the party under his leadership.

    He criticises Carney for not creating separate cabinet portfolios for minister of women, youth, or people with disabilities.

    Singh also criticised him for not having a minister of labour (there is, however, a Minister of Jobs and Families).

    "He might say it's just the name, well the name means something," Singh says, calling it a "problematic" omission.

    Singh also criticised Carney as someone who has made billionaires "very rich at the cost of workers".

  9. Analysis

    What we learned from Carney's first press conference as PMpublished at 18:18 Greenwich Mean Time

    Jessica Murphy
    Reporting from Toronto

    In his first media appearance as prime minister, Mark Carney sought to paint his government as one of action - ready to hit the ground running as Canada faces an escalating trade war with the US, its closest ally and largest trade partner.

    He said he would be heading in the coming days to the UK and France as the country seeks to deepen ties with "reliable" - a word he underscored - trade partners.

    But it's clear Canada will soon head into a general election. Carney took a few open jabs at the Conservatives, who are currently polling slightly ahead, or even, with the Liberals.

    Asked directly about election plans, Carney was more coy. He gave a nod to the fact that, by law, there must be an election by October, but added that in the coming days he would have more to say about getting "as strong a mandate that is needed for the time".

    This was a get to know you news conference - generally friendly as reporters queried Carney on major issues, like how he would handle Trump.

    But the job will only get more challenging from here.

  10. Pierre Poilievre to speak soonpublished at 18:07 Greenwich Mean Time

    Soon, we'll be hearing from Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who is expected to respond to Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech.

    Stick with us, we'll bring the latest as it happens.

  11. Where does Mark Carney stand on key issues?published at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time

    As Canada's new prime minister, Mark Carney will inherit the country's response on a number of key global and domestic issues.

    Here is where he stands on some of them:

    • US tariffs - A big issue that Carney will inherit is how Canada will stand up to the threat of tariffs from the Trump administration. He has vowed to continue the country's response of dollar-for-dollar reciprocal tariffs, and added that any revenue generated from that tax would be reinvested back in Canadian workers. Carney has also underscored the importance of looking for trade partners elsewhere, as well as doing the work to bolster Canada's economy. "He will only respect us if we have other options," Carney has said.
    • The Israel-Gaza war - When asked about the war in the Middle East during the French-language Liberal leadership debate, Carney said his stance is that all of the hostages must be returned to their family. He also said there needs to be assistance made available for Gazans. He criticised US President Donald Trump's idea of taking ownership of Gaza and redeveloping it.
    • The Ukraine-Russia war - Carney has said that he has been "very proud" of Canada's support for Ukraine so far. The country has committed nearly C$20bn in aid to Ukraine. Carney has said that Ukraine is "a democracy that has suffered an illegal, unjustified, horrible invasion", and added that any discussion of its future cannot happen without Ukrainians at the table.
    • The high cost of living - Affordability remains top of mind for Canadians. To help those who are struggling, Carney has suggested tax cuts for middle class families, as well as scrapping the GST tax for those purchasing a new home. He also said he would continue to support Liberal policies, like $10-a-day childcare.
  12. Carney news conference comes to an endpublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time

    And with that, we've finished the news conference with Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney.

    Stick with us for more updates, including from Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilivre.

  13. Carney wants Trump to understand Canadian prioritiespublished at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time

    Mark CarneyImage source, Reuters

    Carney is asked again about US-Canada relations.

    Carney says he "looks forward" to speaking with President Trump.

    The prime minister says he understands Trump's agenda and the goal of getting rid of the "scourge" of fentanyl, which affects Canada as well.

    But he wants Trump to understand the importance the country puts on Canadian jobs and workers.

  14. A similar, but smaller cabinet, where everybody is seniorpublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time

    Carney says his cabinet has many familiar faces from the previous government, but it is smaller.

    He says the smaller team is more focussed and everybody in it is "senior".

    One of the top issues is the trade war "crisis" with the US, he says, and so keeping some continuity from the previous government is very important.

  15. Carney takes aim at Conservative leader's employment historypublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time

    Carney delivers his first barb as prime minister towards his political opponent, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

    Asked about the value of his assets that were recently placed in a blind trust, Carney notes that "by definition, you don't know the assets because the trustees take over that responsibility."

    But he adds: "I'd like to assure you that the assets I have were earned through employment income."

    "Employment in the private sector is something the leader of the opposition has never experienced," he remarks - a dig at Poilievre, who has been a member of Parliament since the age of 25.

  16. Canada's identity 'much broader than official languages' - Carneypublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time

    Mark CarneyImage source, Reuters

    A French-speaking reporter asks Carney about the change of the ministerial portfolio of Canadian Heritage to Canadian Culture and Identity.

    The new PM says the change is about strengthening Canadian identity, with language at the centre of it.

    He adds that the question of the country’s identity is much broader than just official languages - it also includes nature, oceans and biodiversity.

    "To ensure those things are protected and promoted."

  17. Carney won't announce yet where he is running in general electionpublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time

    Back to the election Canada has to hold before November and Carney is asked where in the country will he choose to run.

    He is the first prime minister to never serve as a member of Parliament, and must run for a seat once the election is called.

    "Today is not the day to announce where I will run," Carney says.

  18. We will never, in any shape or form, be part of the US, Carney tells reporterspublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time

    Media caption,

    Canada's new prime minister: 'We will never' be part of the US

    Carney is now asked if he will be seeking reassurances in Europe that Canada will never become the "51st state" of the US, as President Trump has claimed recently.

    "We will never, in any shape or form, be part of the US," he tells the crowd, echoing similar remarks he has made previously.

    Carney says a ceremony like the swearing in today, and the group of ministers behind him, are nothing like America's system of government.

    "We are very fundamentally a different country," Carney says, adding that the country "expects respect" from America and Trump.

  19. Carney declines to say when election will be heldpublished at 17:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    Carney is now asked about when Canadians can expect to go to an election.

    He responds by joking they can expect to vote “before November”. The federal election must be held before October.

    The news today, he adds, is the new Cabinet that stands behind him.

    "There will be other news in the coming days with respect to ensuring that we have a stronger mandate,” he tells reporters.

  20. Carney calls Marco Rubio's latest 51st state comment ‘crazy’published at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time

    Staying on a US theme and Carney is asked about Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comments this morning saying that "economically speaking Canada would be better as the 51st state of the United States."

    Rubio said this during a G7 foreign ministers' meeting that is being held in Quebec.

    "It's crazy," Prime Minister Carney says in response. "That's all you can say."