Mark Carney, an economist and political newcomer, has been sworn in as Canada's new prime minister, and delivered remarks vowing to "never" become a part of the United States, BBC reports.
He took office on Friday just days after being elected leader of the governing Liberal Party and amid an ongoing trade war with US President Donald Trump.
"We know that by building together, we can give ourselves far more than anyone else can take away," he said after the ceremony.
Carney replaces outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was in office for nine years, after a landslide victory in last week's Liberal leadership race.
"We will never, in any shape or form, be part of the US," Carney told reporters in Ottawa on Friday, referring to Trump's musings that Canada join the US as its "51st state".
"We are very fundamentally a different country," he said, later adding the notion is "crazy".
He declined to answer questions about the timing of Canada's next federal election - currently scheduled for October - but hinted he would move quickly to seek "as strong a mandate that is needed for the time".
