Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is running to replace Trudeau Politics News

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney has officially entered the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. leader of the ruling Liberal Party.

Carney launched his campaign for the party leadership at a rally in Edmonton, capital of the western Canadian province of Alberta, on Thursday afternoon.

“I’m back home in Edmonton to announce my candidacy for leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister of Canada,” Carney said, flanked by supporters and Liberal MPs.

The 59-year-old is considered one of the frontrunners in the race to replace Trudeau. He previously served as the Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013, and was the Governor of the Bank of England until 2020.

Trudeau who announced that fall down Amid growing pressure and waning public support in early January, the party will remain until it chooses a successor in early March.

The Liberals hope the new leader will help boost their chances ahead of the election, which is due to be held by the end of October.

Recent polls ahead of the upcoming election show the opposition Conservative Party with a more than 20 per cent lead over the Liberals, who are facing growing anger from many Canadians over their handling of the affordability crisis.

There was also a liberal government under pressure To head off U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose steep, 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods when he takes office as the Republican leader next week.

Carney, who has tried to portray himself as a political outsider, said Thursday that his leadership bid comes at a critical time for the country.

“Too many are left behind. Too many young people can’t buy a house. Many people cannot find a doctor.”

“And on top of that… in just four days, the United States will swear in Donald Trump as its 47th president, threatening its closest, staunchest allies, including Canada, with economic might.”

Carney also criticized Pierre Poilievrethe leader of the Conservative Party, who is expected to become the country’s next prime minister after this year’s elections.

“‘Canada is broken’ was one of Pierre Poilievre’s many three-word slogans, and it couldn’t be more dangerous,” Carney said.

“Conservatives don’t run around saying Canada is broken because they want to fix it. They are asking for a license to demolish and destroy,” he continued. “Their three-word votes won’t solve problems, but will hurt ordinary people.”

Poilievre, right-wing populist First elected to the Canadian parliament in 2004, Carney attacked the Trudeau government as a supporter of carbon pricing policies that put a price on carbon emissions.

He nicknamed the economist “Carbon Tax Carney” and promised to quit politics if elected.

Poilievre echoed that theme in response to Carney’s announcement on Thursday, again linking the Liberal leader to the unpopular Trudeau government as well as the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP).

“Carbon Tax Carney NDP-Liberal back gas, heating (and) grocery tax hikes” Poilievre he wrote on Thursday on the X social media platform. “Just. as Justin.”

Conservatives also rejected the idea that Carney was an outsider statement During the Trudeau era, he worked as an economic adviser to the Liberal government.

“As a long-time liberal insider … Carbon Tax Carney is the furthest thing from an outsider possible,” the party said. “Obviously the Carbon Tax Carney and the Liberals will say anything to try and keep power. But they cannot be trusted.”

Carbon Tax Carney NDP-Liberal backed quadrupling gas, heating and grocery tax to $0.61/L.

Simply. as Justin. pic.twitter.com/MEWQdQKPwb

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 16, 2025

The Liberal Party will elect its new leader and, in addition, the next prime minister on March 9, a few weeks before parliament reconvenes on March 24.

However, it is unclear how long the new prime minister will remain in the top job.

The Conservatives and other opposition parties have said they plan to move a no-confidence motion against the Liberal government, which would trigger an election.

Apart from Carney, Liberal MP Chandra Arya and businessman Frank Baylis have also officially entered the Liberal leadership race.

But the competition is expected to fall to Carney and the former finance minister of Canada Christia FreelandA longtime ally of Trudeau, who resigned from his cabinet in late December.

Freeland, who has yet to formally announce his campaign, resigned after what he said was a disagreement with Trudeau over how to handle Trump’s looming tariff threat.

In a social media post on Wednesday, he teased the leadership bid and said he would “say more soon!”.

The fifth cup of tea and the bells don’t stop – I’m grateful for the chance to hear from you and hear your thoughts, fellow liberals!

I will have more to say soon! pic.twitter.com/miGcmgtzfk

— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) January 15, 2025