OTTAWA — Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa today. Here’s the latest on today’s events — which also included the introduction of a new cabinet (all times Eastern):
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5 p.m.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is the last cabinet minister to be sworn in.
Joly was in Charlevoix, Que., for the final morning of the G7 foreign ministers meeting when the cabinet ceremony took place on Friday.
She was sworn in alone later on at Rideau Hall, before attending the cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill.
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4:50 p.m.
The order-in-council signed by Prime Minister Mark Carney today will end the consumer carbon levy on April 1.
That’s the date the price was set to rise by another $15 to $95 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.
The order, titled “Eliminating the Consumer Carbon Price,” reads, “I hereby instruct that the fuel charge be removed as of April 1, 2025 and that the April 2025 Canada Carbon Rebate be issued.”
The next rebate, which is sent to households in provinces and territories that use the federal carbon pricing system, is scheduled for April 15.
Eliminating the charge will reduce the cost of a litre of gasoline by 17.6 cents, and reduce the cost a cubic metre of natural gas by a little more than 15 cents.
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4:49 p.m
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Justin Trudeau’s Liberals have introduced destructive policies and she doesn’t expect that to change under Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Smith says it’s vital that Canada elect a leader who can negotiate a renewed Canada-U.S. free trade deal and stand with the oil and gas industry.
Now that Carney has axed the consumer carbon tax, Smith says she wants to know his plans for the industrial tax.
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4:15 p.m.
Prime Minister Mark Carney signs an order-in-council at the end of his first cabinet meeting to eliminate the consumer carbon price.
Carney made a show of signing the document in front of media cameras while his 23 ministers looked on and applauded. It was a move reminiscent of President Donald Trump signing executive orders in the Oval Office.
Carney says it is a “big decision” but adds Canadians who had been receiving carbon rebates will still receive the next one in April.
The move means the consumer fuel charge, currently $80 a tonne, will no longer be applied to purchases of nearly two dozen fuels, including gasoline, natural gas and propane.
3:55 p.m.
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse issues a statement congratulating Mark Carney on becoming prime minister, adding he is assuming “heavy responsibilities” including “advancing a constructive and mutually beneficial relationship with First Nations.”
Woodhouse says one of the AFN’s priorities is to work with Carney to ensure First Nations are included in Team Canada as it battles U.S. protectionism and tariffs.
She also wants him to commit to long-term funding for clean drinking water and to close the infrastructure gap — a multi-billion-dollar funding shortfall for housing, roads, treatment plants and other infrastructure on First Nations.
2:30 p.m.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wishes former prime minister Justin Trudeau a happy retirement, and briefly congratulates new Prime Minister Mark Carney, before unleashing a lengthy critique of Carney and his plans for Canada.
Poilievre says Carney was installed by the Liberal establishment and the same people who ran Trudeau’s government.
He says they include Gerry Butts, Trudeau’s former principal secretary and now one of Carney’s advisers, and Marco Mendicino, the former minister of public safety, who is serving as Carney’s transition chief of staff.
Poilievre also says nobody should believe Carney when he says he is getting rid of the carbon price.
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1:57 p.m.
Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland is dismissing the suggestion that her new role in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet is a demotion.
Freeland served as finance minister in former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet between August 2020 and December 2024 — when her sudden resignation lit the spark that led Trudeau to resign almost a month later.
She resigned because Trudeau had told her he was going to replace her with Carney.
Freeland finished a distant second to Carney in the leadership race last Sunday. Today, he named her his new minister of transport.
Freeland says it is a privilege to serve in cabinet and all ministers will be focused on leading Canada through a “consequential time” and helping the party win the next election.
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1:55 p.m.
Housing Minister Nate Erskine-Smith says he thinks an election “sooner rather than later” is better.
Erskine-Smith was sworn in as housing and infrastructure minister this morning, having assumed that post originally in December.
He says there is going to be an election this year “one way or another” and with all opposition parties threatening to vote the government down as soon as they can, it makes sense to call an election soon.
Parliament is scheduled to resume on March 24 but it is widely expected that Prime Minister Carney will call an election before then.
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1:51 p.m.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt is extending her congratulations to Prime Minister Mark Carney and the two federal cabinet representatives from her province, Minister of International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc and Treasury Board President Ginette Petitpas Taylor.
“I look forward to working with all of you as part of Team Canada as we tackle the challenges ahead and strive to improve the lives of New Brunswickers and all Canadians,” she wrote on X.
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1:45 p.m.
As he walked into his first cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed his government’s first item of business: “We’re gonna deal with the carbon tax.”
He pledged during the Liberal leadership race to remove the unpopular consumer price while maintaining the industrial price paid by big polluters.
The consumer price is set through regulations and could be cancelled by an order-in-council without the need to recall Parliament or repeal any laws.
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1:40 p.m.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe congratulates Mark Carney and says he needs to address global uncertainty, the rise of protectionism and U.S. and Chinese tariffs on Canadian goods.
He says Carney should remove the consumer carbon levy immediately and work with U.S. President Donald Trump to ensure trade between both countries is free and fair.
Moe also says the prime minister must work on getting Chinese tariffs on canola removed and advance uranium mining projects in the province.
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1:30 p.m.
Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, says in a statement the organization welcomes Carney as prime minister.
“We know that a strong and secure Canada is one where Inuit thrive and where policy is driven by the pursuit of equity,” he said. “Inuit look forward to working with Prime Minister Carney and his team to advance shared Inuit-Crown priorities and confront all the challenges before us.”
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1:25 p.m.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canadians will see by the end of the day how his new government will get rid of the consumer carbon price.
Carney is meeting with his cabinet immediately after his first news conference as prime minister. The carbon price can be eliminated through a cabinet order.
Carney ran his leadership campaign on a promise to get rid of what he called the divisive consumer carbon price but will maintain the policy for big industrial emitters.
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1:20 p.m.
Prime Minister Mark Carney says he has received invitations from the president of France and the prime minister of the United Kingdom to visit to discuss economic connections and the security of Europe and Canada.
He will travel to both countries next week.
He says diversifying Canada’s commercial and trading relationships is critical.
He says he does not currently have plans to travel to Washington to meet with United States President Donald Trump but looks forward to speaking with him by phone soon.
He says Trump’s repeated assertion that Canada should become the 51st state “is crazy.”
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1:10 p.m.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is speaking following his swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall.
Carney says “Canada’s new government is changing how we work” and will be focused on things that matter most to Canadians.
He said the smaller cabinet will focus on two priorities: protecting Canadian workers and families from “unjustified foreign trade actions” and expanding the economy.
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12:25 p.m.
The swearing-in ceremony is over.
Carney is expected to give a speech and take questions outside of Rideau Hall soon.
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12:09 p.m.
member of Parliament and former minister of agriculture and agri-food Lawrence MacAulay says on social media that as he leaves cabinet, he’s “still just as hopeful” as he was as a young farmer and truly believes “the future is bright for Canadian agriculture.”
He says he has no doubt that his replacement, Kody Blois, is “up to the task” and will work “tirelessly” to keep the sector strong.
MacAulay is one of several people shuffled out of cabinet. Others include Marc Miller, Terry Beech, Jean-Yves Duclos, Darren Fisher, Ahmed Hussen, Diane Lebouthillier, Ruby Sahota, Ya’ara Saks, Jenna Sudds, Mark Holland, Gudie Hutchings, Marci Ien, Mary Ng, Harjit Sajjan, Pascale St-Onge and Arif Virani.
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11:35 a.m.
Trudeau’s longtime photographer Adam Scotti shared photos Friday of the former prime minister from the last year.
The gallery includes several photos taken during his last days in office and as he delivered his official resignation to Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at Rideau Hall.
In one photo, Trudeau appears to be using a tissue as Simon puts a hand on his elbow.
Other photos show Trudeau thanking household staff at Rideau Cottage and looking into empty cupboards in the kitchen there.
Scotti also posted photos from earlier in the week, including one of Trudeau offering a toast to Prime Minister’s Office staff, taking part in his last cabinet meeting and turning off the light in his West Block office for the last time.
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11:30 a.m.
Mark Carney’s cabinet members have been sworn in. A government news release says the “new, leaner, focused” cabinet includes returning ministers, seasoned leaders and new voices who will bring “fresh ideas and perspectives to the team as it delivers on the things that matter most to Canadians, such as strengthening Canada’s economy and security.”
Here’s a list of ministers and their portfolios:
• Dominic LeBlanc, minister of international trade and intergovernmental affairs and president of the King’s Privy Council for Canada
• Mélanie Joly, minister of foreign affairs and international development
• François-Philippe Champagne, minister of finance
• Anita Anand, minister of innovation, science and industry
• Bill Blair, minister of national defence
• Patty Hajdu, minister of Indigenous services
• Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of energy and natural resources
• Ginette Petitpas Taylor, president of the Treasury Board
• Steven Guilbeault, minister of Canadian culture and identity, Parks Canada and Quebec lieutenant
• Chrystia Freeland, minister of transport and internal trade
• Kamal Khera, minister of health
• Gary Anandasangaree, minister of justice and attorney general of Canada and minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and northern affairs
• Rechie Valdez, chief government whip
• Steven MacKinnon, minister of jobs and families
• David McGuinty, minister of public safety and emergency preparedness
• Terry Duguid, minister of environment and climate change
• Nate Erskine-Smith, minister of housing, infrastructure and communities
• Rachel Bendayan, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship
• Élisabeth Brière, minister of veterans affairs and minister responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency
• Joanne Thompson, minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
• Arielle Kayabaga, leader of the government in the House of Commons and minister of democratic institutions
• Kody Blois, minister of agriculture and agri-food and rural economic development
• Ali Ehsassi, minister of government transformation, public services and procurement
Joly will be sworn in later this afternoon.
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11:25 a.m.
Mark Carney is sworn in as prime minister.
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11:20 a.m.
Carney and his cabinet take their seats in the Rideau Hall Ballroom. Carney sits beside his wife, Diana Fox Carney.
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10:59 a.m.
Mark Carney posts on social media that “today we’re building a government that meets the moment.”
He says “Canadians expect action” and that his “smaller, experienced cabinet” will move swiftly to secure the economy and protect Canada’s future.
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10:45 a.m.
Guests begin to be admitted to Rideau Hall. They include former ministers and government officials and former governors general Michaëlle Jean and David Johnston.
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10:35 a.m.
Carney arrives at Rideau Hall. He tells reporters that his government is focused on action and will get “straight to work.”
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10:30 a.m.
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien speaks to reporters outside of Rideau Hall.
He says he supports Carney and that he thinks the incoming prime minister will do “very well.”
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10:20 a.m.
member of Parliament Karina Gould, defeated by Carney in the Liberal leadership race, congratulates Carney and his cabinet members on social media.
She says she is “committed to supporting our government as we defend Canada from Donald Trump and his ill-conceived and unjustified trade war.”
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10:20 a.m.
Ministers begin to arrive at Rideau Hall. They include Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault.
Minister of Seniors Joanne Thompson, Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Anita Anand and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Gary Anandasangaree also have arrived.
Also at Rideau Hall are former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Sport Terry Duguid, Minister of National Revenue Élisabeth Brière, President of the Treasury Board Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages Rachel Bendayan, Minister of National Defence Bill Blair and member of Parliament Kody Blois.
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10 a.m.
Justin Trudeau has formally resigned as prime minister during a visit with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at Rideau Hall.
Mark Carney will be sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister in a ceremony at Rideau Hall scheduled for 11 a.m.
A new cabinet will also be sworn in.
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9:34 a.m.
Journalists are gathering at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, where Mark Carney will be sworn in as prime minister in a ceremony set to begin at 11 a.m.
Carney will hold a news conference after he and his new caretaker cabinet are sworn in.
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9:24 a.m.
The Conservative party releases a media advisory saying that leader Pierre Poilievre will hold a news conference at 2 p.m.
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8:36 a.m.
Justin Trudeau will officially resign during a visit to Rideau Hall this morning.
In a social media post Friday morning, Trudeau thanked Canadians for trusting and challenging him and for granting him “the privilege to serve the best country, and the best people, on earth.”
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8 a.m.
The Prime Minister’s Office releases an itinerary that says the new prime minister will chair a cabinet meeting at 2 p.m.
A pooled photo opportunity will take place after the meeting.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2025.
The Canadian Press
