Canada will 'never' be part of US says, new PM Carney

Newly sworn-in Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada will "never" be absorbed into the US, rejecting President Donald Trump's annexation threats.

Canada "will never, ever, in any way, shape or form, be part of the United States," Mr Carney said after taking the oath to become Canada's 24th prime minister, while also voicing hope his government could find ways "to work together" with the Trump administration.

"We respect President Trump - President Trump has put some very important issues at the top of his agenda.

"We understand his agenda," he told reporters after being sworn in, noting he had worked with Mr Trump at international meetings.

"In many respects, part of my experience overlaps with that of the President - we're both looking out for our countries.

"But he knows, and I know from long experience, that we can find mutual solutions that win for both," he said.

The 59-year-old, has become the first Canadian prime minister without any serious political experience.

Mr Carney plans to travel to London and Paris next week, said a diplomat aware of the plans. Canada has sought to shore up alliances in Europe as its relations with the United States sink to unprecedented lows.

Mr Carney has reshaped his cabinet with a view to dealing with Washington. Finance Minister Dominic Le Blanc is moving to the international trade portfolio and will be replaced by current Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.

Mr Carney crushed his rivals on Sunday in a race to become leader of the ruling Liberal Party. He replaces Justin Trudeau, who spent more than nine years in office.

Mr Carney, a former head of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, successfully argued his position as an outsider with a history of tackling crises meant he was the best person to take on Mr Trump, who has repeatedly talked about annexing Canada.

Three of Mr Carney's four grandparents hail from Aughagower in Co Mayo.

Read More: Carney - Canada's 'boring' but 'reassuring' prime minister

On Wednesday, Mr Carney told reporters that he was ready to meet Mr Trump when "there is respect for Canadian sovereignty".

He also said he would keep in place retaliatory tariffs on US goods until the United States showed Canada some respect.

Efforts are under way to arrange a call between Mr Trump and Mr Carney in the next couple of days, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told reporters.

Justin Trudeau announced his intention to step down as prime minister in January.

Mr Carney is due to name a cabinet that will likely not be in office for long, since Liberal insiders say he will call a snap election within the next two weeks. If he changes his mind, opposition parties say they will unite to bring down the minority Liberal government in a confidence vote at the end of March.

Once the election is called, Mr Carney will be very limited in what he can do politically because convention dictates he cannot make major decisions when running for office.

Opinion polls currently suggest it will be a close race with the official opposition Conservatives, with neither party gaining enough seats for a majority government.