Canada’s Carney unveils new cabinet with ‘primary focus’ on economy amid US tariffs

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his new cabinet at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Tuesday, saying that the team will have a “primary focus” on the country’s economy after a whirlwind election catalyzed by tariffs and annexation threats from the United States.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his new cabinet at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Tuesday, saying that his ministry will have a “primary focus” on the country’s economy after a whirlwind election catalyzed by tariffs and annexation threats from the United States. “Canadians elected this new government with a strong mandate to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States, to build a stronger economy, to reduce the cost of living, and to keep our communities safe,” Carney’s office said in a statement soon after the cabinet was sworn in. The group of 28 ministers features a few notable shuffles, including Anita Anand replacing Mélanie Joly as minister of foreign relations. Joly was made minister of industry. “We have to address and come to a new arrangement with the Americans,” Carney said at a press conference after the swearing-in ceremony. “But our primary focus is on the economy, and our primary focus is on the Canadian economy.” “We are at the start of an industrial transformation, the transformation of this economy, and Madame Joly, as minister of industry, is going to help lead that, in concert with the other members of the cabinet and myself,” Carney continued. As for Canada’s changing relationship with the US, Carney said at the press conference that he would “take ultimate responsibility” for all diplomacy with Washington, assisted by five other ministers: foreign affairs, finance, public safety, defense and Canada-US trade.