Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, is actively considering running in a potential Liberal Party leadership race should Justin Trudeau resign, sources told CTV News.
Carney’s possible leadership bid was first reported by the Toronto Star on Friday.
Calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign intensified following Chrystia Freeland’s surprise resignation from cabinet and have increased over the holidays, with most Liberal MPs now calling for him to step aside. Responding to a request from regional caucus chairs, CTV News has learned that a national caucus meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, where Trudeau will face his MPs for the first time since telling them he would reflect on his future during the winter holidays.
Since Boxing Day, sources say Carney has made and answered dozens of calls to Liberal MPs and political organizers who view him as a possible replacement for Trudeau.
One source maintains that Carney’s economic credentials are seen as beneficial in potential tariff negotiations with US President-elect Donald Trump and in improving the economic security of Canadians, many of whom have responded to a focused conservative message. in the lack of affordability.
Carney linked to Liberal Party and Trudeau government for months
Speculation about Carney’s leadership aspirations and the Trudeau government’s attempts to recruit him have continued for months.
Last summer, Trudeau confirmed to reporters that he had been talking to Carney about joining federal politics, and later in September he named the former central banker as special economic adviser to the Liberal Party.
Later in December, just days before presenting the fall economic statement as finance minister and her sudden resignation, Trudeau told Freeland during a Zoom call Friday morning that she was losing the finance portfolio. Instead, sources told CTV News that Trudeau wanted her to take on a new position as the government’s point person on Canada-U.S. relations, while maintaining her title as deputy prime minister. Another Liberal source says Trudeau told Freeland he would replace her with Carney.
The Conservatives have also targeted Carney for months, labeling him “Carney with carbon taxes” in an attempt to connect him to the Liberals’ signature climate policy.
The conservatives maintain an advantage of more than 20 points over the liberals
While calls from within the Liberal Party for Trudeau’s resignation have been growing, support for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives is reaching new heights; 26 points more than the liberals.
According to the latest weekly voting tracking from Nanos Research, the federal Conservatives currently have 47 per cent of support, compared to 21 per cent for the Liberals.
Doubts about Trudeau’s future persist as opposition parties push for an early election.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for a vote of no confidence in Trudeau’s government as soon as Parliament resumes, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a letter last month that the Liberals “do not deserve another chance.” and that his party “will do it.” present a clear motion of no confidence in the next session of the House of Commons.”
