Canada has a new wizard at its helm but he graduated from Harvard and not Hogwarts. Mark Carney, who is set to replace Justin Trudeau as Canadian PM, faces one big challenge: To fight against tariff threats from US President Donald Trump who he once likened to Harry Potter antagonist Lord Voldemort.
Carney was elected as Trudeau's successor in the Liberal Party on Sunday. However, his term as Canadian Prime Minister will be short-lived as the country faces general elections in October.
Carney slammed Trump in his acceptance speech on Sunday, saying Canada is facing "dark, dark days, brought on by a country we can no longer trust." Pointing out that new threats demand new ideas and a new plan, Carney vowed to impose retaliatory tariffs on US imports and fight until "Americans show us respect".
The incoming PM called out Trump for attacking families, workers and businesses. "We cannot let him succeed and we won't. In trade as in hockey, Canada will win," he added. "Canada didn't ask for a fight, but if it comes to that, we will win."
"We will build new relationships with reliable trading partners and secure our borders," Carney said, later adding that he wants to diversify trade with India.
He said Canada will will come under Washington DC in "any way, shape or form". This was in repsonse to Trump's earlier claim about annexing Canada and making it the 51st state of the United States.
Besides Canadian nationalisty, Carney also holds British and Irish passports. In the past, he has led both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England.