Poilievre to speak after Carney sworn in as prime minister
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holds a news conference in downtown Ottawa after Prime Minister Mark Carney and his cabinet were sworn in at Rideau Hall earlier Friday.
The Latest
The new prime minister says his cabinet will focus on the Canadian economy and fighting extraordinary challenges from the United States.Carney said a senior U.S. official’s latest comment on Canada’s independence was “crazy.”Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is holding a news conference in Ottawa now.CBC News is covering the developments live. March 14
17 minutes ago
Poilievre is speaking now
Rhianna Schmunk
He begins by wishing Trudeau well in his “retirement” and congratulating Carney on his first political office, referring to the new prime minister as “Trudeau’s economic adviser.”
24 minutes ago
Anand to suppliers: Use Canadian steel and aluminum
Catharine Tunney
Carney’s new government appears to be moving fast. Industry Minister Anita Anand says she’s already met with her deputy minister, the department’s top bureaucrat.
“I have instructed him to prepare a letter that will be going to our suppliers to buy Canadian, to ensure they are utilizing Canadian steel and aluminum in the products the Government of Canada is purchasing,” she said.
The U.S. imposed 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports earlier this week — and Canada is their biggest source.
26 minutes ago
A ‘race to the right’
Michael Woods
Singh is seen speaking to reporters on Dec. 3. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)Singh also said Karina Gould not being in cabinet sends a message to progressive Liberals that there’s no place for them in the party.
He characterized the next election as “a race to the right” between Carney and Poilievre, which means “workers lose.”
The NDP has been bleeding support in the polls to the Liberals recently.
28 minutes ago
Singh says Carney is ignoring labour issues
Michael Woods
The NDP leader criticized Carney’s lack of a portfolio specifically for women, youth and people with disabilities.
He also singled out the fact that Carney’s cabinet does not have a minister of labour.
Steven MacKinnon is now the minister of jobs and families. His previous title included the word “labour,” but it’s safe to say labour issues will still fall under his role.
“You might say it’s just a name. Well, the name means something,” Singh said.
He said it shows Carney’s government is not prioritizing labour, unions and workers.
40 minutes ago
Freeland says it’s a privilege to be in cabinet
Catharine Tunney
Carney congratulates Freeland after she was sworn in as the minister of transport and internal trade. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)While her new role could be seen as a demotion, Chrystia Freeland was smiling as she arrived for Carney’s first cabinet meeting.
Before her shock resignation in December, Freeland was deputy prime minister and finance minister. She is now transport and internal trade minister.
Asked if she sees it as a step down, Freeland called serving in cabinet a privilege.
She pointed out that she had proposed a smaller cabinet during the leadership campaign.
“Ideas have no copyright,” she said.
47 minutes ago
Singh to react to Carney’s cabinet
Michael Woods
In addition to Poilievre, we’re expecting to hear from NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in a separate news conference.
Singh earlier today congratulated Trudeau on his time in office.
“Whatever disagreements we have had, his love for Canada is always evident,” he said on social media. “I know PM Trudeau has always been there for his kids, and I hope as he steps away from politics he gets to enjoy more time just being a dad.”
Poilievre’s line of attack on Carney from the beginning has been that he’s “just like Justin,” and the fact that many of Carney’s ministers were previously appointed by Trudeau will surely feature in his comments today.
50 minutes ago
Carney asked about assets
Catharine Tunney
After Carney’s speech, a reporter asked him if he’ll disclose the nature and value of the financial assets he put into a blind trust after winning the party leadership.
Carney called the framing of the question “odd,” and then explained why he felt that way.
“You don’t know. By definition you don’t know the assets because the trustees take over the responsibility,” he said. A trustee can buy or sell assets in the trust and the rules stipulate that Carney can’t know about those transactions.
Carney’s assets have been a point of attack from Poilievre, who accuses Carney of hiding “millions of dollars in interests that go against” the interests of Canada and Canadians.
The new PM said his assets were earned through employment as a public servant and in the private sector — and then took his own swipe at Poilievre.
“I would note as well that employment in the private sector is something that the leader of the Opposition has never experienced,” Carney said.
1 hour ago
Carney’s speech has wrapped. Poilievre is up next
Rhianna Schmunk
FULL SPEECH | PM Carney delivers first speech after being sworn in at Rideau Hall
Following a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney says it’s a ‘solemn duty to serve as prime minister at this time of great consequence for our country.’
You can watch Carney’s full speech in the video above.
The Conservative leader is set to speak in just a few minutes.
1 hour ago
Carbon tax gone today?
Catharine Tunney
Carney hints at removing carbon tax ‘by end of the day’
Asked how he plans to get rid of the consumer carbon tax ahead of its scheduled increase on April 1, Prime Minister Mark Carney said ‘how are we going to do it by the end of the day.’ Carney added he would have more details following a Friday afternoon cabinet meeting.
Carney campaigned on dumping the consumer carbon tax and seemed to hint just now that could happen quickly.
With the carbon price set to increase on April 1, he was asked how he plans to avoid that increase in the next few weeks.
Carney joked the question should be “how are we going to do it by the end of the day?”
He suggested he’ll have more to say after his first cabinet meeting this afternoon.
1 hour ago
Rubio comments ‘crazy,’ Carney says
Catharine Tunney
‘It’s crazy,’ new PM Carney says of 51st state comments
In one of his first answers as prime minister, Mark Carney called continued comments about Canada being a 51st state ‘crazy.’ It comes after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made remarks about Trump’s position at a G7 meeting in Charlevoix, Que.
Asked about Rubio’s comments, Carney was short and blunt.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “His point is crazy. That’s it.”
