Mark Carney’s not wasting time—or cabinet seats. The incoming prime minister, set to be sworn in Friday at Rideau Hall, is slashing Trudeau’s 37-strong cabinet down to a nimble 15 to 20, insiders say. Over the past two days, his team’s been dishing out the news—some ministers are switching lanes, others are out the door. It’s a bold reset as Trudeau exits Friday, paving the way for Carney’s crew to take the oath at 11 a.m. under Governor General Mary Simon’s watch.
Not everyone’s packing up. Key players like Mélanie Joly (Foreign Affairs), Dominic LeBlanc (Finance), and François-Philippe Champagne (Innovation) are locked in, primed to slug it out with Trump’s trade tantrum—25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum hit Wednesday. Canada’s firing back with 25% tariffs on $29.8 billion in U.S. imports starting Thursday, and Carney’s ready to talk, but only if Trump respects the border. “I’m prepared to sit down,” he told steelworkers at Hamilton’s ArcelorMittal Dofasco Wednesday, “but sovereignty’s non-negotiable.”
Carney’s been on a tear since Sunday’s Liberal leadership rout—caucus Monday, top brass Tuesday, Ford Wednesday. His pick for chief of staff, Marco Mendicino, synced with Trudeau’s staff Tuesday to keep the handover smooth. X chatter’s split—some see a bold new dawn, others eye the old guard and yawn. With Parliament sidelined ‘til March 24, an election’s looming—think late April or May. Radio-Canada whispers former Quebec bigwigs Carlos Leitão and Jean Charest might join the fray, though Charest’s holding out for an election win. For now, Carney’s trimming the fat and bracing for a fight.