BBC News
At his first press conference since the federal election, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney set his priorities, including how he will approach future talks with US President Donald Trump.
His election campaign focused on facing Trump's tariff plans and threats to make Canada a 51st US state.
The Liberals won 168 of the 343 seats in the Canadian House of Representatives in Monday's election.
Kearney's new cabinets will be sworn in the week of May 12th.
Here are some of the things we learned from Kearney's Friday press conference:
A strategic visit by the King
Kearney announced upcoming visits from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who will be visiting Canada later this month.
“This is a historic honor that fits the weight of our time,” he told reporters gathered in Ottawa.
Carney says he invited the King to officially open Canada's 45th Parliament on May 27th.
The demands are certainly strategic.
Kearney said the king's visit “evidently emphasizes the sovereignty of our country” – nods to Trump's 51st state remarks.
Trump also has praise that is well known to the royal family. In February, British Prime Minister Kielstama used his trip to the White House to present an invitation from King Charles to Trump.
The King is the head of state of Canada and is represented in Canada by Governor Mary Simon.
After the election, a new parliamentary session will be held normally by the Governor, who will read a speech from the throne on behalf of the Prime Minister. A speech read in the Canadian Senate shows the government's agenda.
It is not unprecedented that a throne speech is read by a head of state, but this last happened in October 1977 when Queen Elizabeth II read her second speech. The first was 1957.
Showdown with Trump
Kearney will visit the White House on Tuesday, just a week after the federal election.
His first official visit to the White House as Prime Minister comes in the president's repeated comments about making Canada the 51st US province amidst frayed ties between close allies in the wake of Trump's threatened tariffs.
Kearney said there are two sets of issues to be discussed: tariffs and broader relationships for the time being.
“My government will fight for the best deal in Canada,” Carney said.
He added that high levels of dialogue indicate the seriousness of conversations between leaders.
He said he expects a “difficult but constructive” debate with the president.
He also pointed to recent conversations with world leaders in Europe and Asia, saying it would strengthen its relationship with “trusted” trading partners.
Olive branches offered to rivals
The Canadian election highlighted the division within Canada along regional, demographic and political boundaries.
On Friday, Carney said Canada must unite “once in this “one lifetime crisis.”
“It's when we got a big win in Team Canada sweaters,” he said.
He provided olive branches to Canadians and his political rivals who did not vote for his Liberal Party.
Canadians voted for a robust response to Trump, but they also “sent a clear message that their living expenses must be down and that their community needs to be safe,” Carney said.
“As Prime Minister, I have heard these messages loudly and clearly, so I will act with focus and determination.”
He said he is committed to working with others, including across the aisle.
Under leader Pierre Poilierivele, the conservative campaign focused on the cost of living and crime.
The Conservatives came in second and formed official opposition, but Polyebre lost his seat in his Ottawa area.
Carney said he was open to calling special elections that would allow Poilierbre to find another seat if the path that conservatives would like to take.
“There's no game,” he said.
