Canada should ‘never forget’ US betrayal; old relations ‘over’, says new PM after victory

Canada’s newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney has delivered a strong message to the United States, stating that Ottawa should "never forget the lessons" of Washington's "betrayal" that has adversely affected the two countries' trade ties.

Carney made the remarks on Tuesday after his Liberal Party won control of the parliament amidst growing tensions with US President Donald Trump's administration over trade policies.

"We will win this trade war," Carney told cheering supporters in Ottawa, warning of "challenging" days ahead due to Trump's tariffs and annexation threats.

"We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons," Carney said.

The Liberal Party secured a victory in Canada’s election, but fell short of the majority government Carney had hoped for, winning 167 seats -- still short of the 172 needed to govern without support from smaller parties. The Conservative Party followed with 145 seats, with votes still being counted.

Carney made it clear in his victory speech that the traditional relationship between Canada and the US had changed. "Our old relationship with the United States, a relationship based on steadily increasing integration, is over," he said.

"The system of open global trade anchored by the United States, a system that Canada has relied on since the Second World War, is over," he again asserted.

"These are tragedies, but it's also our new reality," Carney added, acknowledging the hard road ahead, which he says would require sacrifices from Canadians.

Tensions between the countries have been escalating, especially after the US imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian-made automobiles.

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US tariffs, particularly the increase that has affected Canadian-made cars, have significantly impacted Canada's economy, with many inside the country seeing these actions as an affront to their nation’s sovereignty.

Carney’s victory is, among other things, attributed to the fallout from Trump’s aggressive trade measures, which have become a major issue in the Canadian election. The tariffs, especially on aluminum and steel, sparked a wave of patriotism, leading to a shift in voter sentiment.

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Many Canadians, especially those in smaller parties such as the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the separatist Bloc Quebecois, rallied behind Carney’s leadership as the prime minister with the strength to handle Trump’s trade war.

‘America can never own us’

The tension resulting from Washington’s confrontational trade approach has added up to other instances of strain in the bilateral ties that have resulted from more cases of controversial attitude on the part of the American administration, including threats of making Canada the US' 51st state.

Carney, however, underscored, "America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country," adding, "These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so America can own us. That will never ever happen."

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