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Mr. Carney\u2019s pitch to Canadians is that his background in finance and his experience dealing with enormous global challenges and working with powerful figures have prepared him to be an expert, steady and seasoned steward of the country as it navigates a crisis in its relationship with the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything in my life has prepared me for this moment,\u201d he said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
His party clearly believes that. In the leadership race on Sunday, members rallied behind him, handing him a resounding victory. He won 85 percent of the votes.<\/p>\n
It is a rapid rise to the helm of the country for a man who spent much of his career in high-profile but unelected public sector roles, mostly outside his home nation.<\/p>\n
His next battle will come quickly, and it will be bigger and tougher than the electoral campaign he just won.<\/p>\n
Mr. Carney is likely to call federal elections soon because he does not hold a seat in Parliament and his party has only a minority number of seats in the House of Commons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Between now and Election Day, which could be just weeks away, according to three people familiar with Mr. Carney\u2019s thinking, he will try to perform a tough balancing act to try to win the federal election. The people did not want to be identified speaking publicly about Mr. Carney\u2019s plans.<\/p>\n
He will put taking on Mr. Trump at the heart of his campaign while negotiating with the American president over tariffs and other demands, such as access to protected markets like dairy and the lowering of taxes on U.S. goods sold in Canada.<\/p>\n
And he will try to convince Canadians watching closely that he can do both.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Stunning Upset<\/h2>\n
Mr. Trudeau\u2019s decision to step down and Mr. Trump\u2019s aggressive rhetoric and policies have given Mr. Carney an unexpected opening. In January, the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, solidified a lead of more than 20 percentage points over the Liberals in polls, with many voters frustrated with Mr. Trudeau\u2019s stewardship.<\/p>\n
But that gap is rapidly closing. Mr. Carney\u2019s ascent seems to have been turbocharged by the fact that many Canadians are seeking an expert in the economy rather than a politician.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mr. Poilievre has understood the political potency of Mr. Trump\u2019s threats for Canadians and has started promoting himself as anti-Trump, even though many Trump supporters also like Mr. Poilievre and the two men have some ideological affiliations.<\/p>\n
\u201cPierre Poilievre\u2019s plan will leave us divided and ready to be conquered,\u201d Mr. Carney said on Sunday. \u201cBecause a person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last week, several polls showed that the Liberals under Mr. Carney could tie with or even narrowly defeat Mr. Poilievre\u2019s Conservatives.<\/p>\n
Darrell Bricker, a seasoned pollster, researcher and chief executive of Ipsos Global \u2014 Public Affairs, an opinion research and consultancy firm, said he had never seen such a stark and swift political shift anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n
The election is very much up for grabs, Mr. Bricker added, and Mr. Carney\u2019s challenge will be to avoid trying to be something he\u2019s not: a politician.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cActually, the act of governing is the Carney campaign,\u201d Mr. Bricker said. \u201cHis proposition is \u2018I\u2019m the man who can manage in a crisis. We\u2019re in a crisis, let me show you how I manage it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A Reboot With Trump?<\/h2>\n
Governing will inevitably mean dealing with Mr. Trump. The United States has imposed some tariffs on Canadian goods, while others are on a reprieve until early April. Next up are 25 percent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum exports to the United States scheduled to go into effect on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Financial markets are in turmoil amid the uncertainty, damaging Canada\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n
Mr. Trump, in conversations with Mr. Trudeau, has made it clear that his list of economic grievances is long and includes industries such as dairy and banking, where the United States faces barriers to competing in Canada.<\/p>\n
Mr. Trump and his advisers have also raised issues that cut to the very heart of Canada\u2019s sovereignty, including revising a border treaty and water-sharing agreements between the two nations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n