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Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney says he is “considering” entering the race to replace Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Trudeau announced Monday that he would step down after nine years as Canadian prime minister – following growing pressure from his own party and poor opinion polls.
Mr Carney, 59, is one of several names being considered to replace Trudeau, alongside his former deputy Chrystia Freeland and Transport Minister Anita Anand.
Trudeau says he will stay in office until a new leader is chosen. Meanwhile, Canada’s Parliament has been prorogued – or suspended – until March 24.
It is likely that the Liberals will attempt to secure a new leader by the end of the prorogation period – although the timetable and procedure remain unclear. Trudeau promised a “robust, competitive and national process.”
Mr Carney, who runs an asset management company and worked as an adviser to Trudeau, told Britain’s Financial Times newspaper: “I will review this decision closely with my family in the coming days.”
He has long been considered a contender for the top job, even though he has never held public office despite his economic background.
During his career as a central banker – at the Bank of Canada from 2007 to 2013, then at the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020 – Mr. Carney was instrumental in the response of two major economies to the financial crisis worldwide.
He also led efforts to support the British economy during its exit from the European Union and the Covid-19 outbreak.
Whoever succeeds Trudeau in Canada could face an immediate test. The country is due to hold its next federal election by October, but a vote is likely to be called before then. The opposition Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, currently enjoys a double-digit lead in opinion polls.
Trudeau himself recently admitted that he had long been trying to recruit Mr. Carney to his team, most recently as finance minister. “He would be an exceptional addition at a time when Canadians need good people to intervene in politics,” he said last year.
Mr Carney would also bring his expertise on environmental issues through his role as UN special envoy for climate action, recently calling the goal of net zero emissions “the greatest business opportunity of our time”.
He champions some Liberal policies unpopular in conservative circles across the country, such as the federal carbon tax, the party’s flagship climate policy that critics say is a financial burden on Canadians.
He also criticized Poilievre, saying the Conservative leader’s vision for the country’s future is “no plan” and “just slogans.”
Other candidates seen as credible replacements for Trudeau include his former aide Chrystia Freeland, who resigned from cabinet after a rift with the prime minister’s office in December, and Transport Minister Anita Anand, a lawyer elected in 2019.
Watch: Trudeau’s nine years as leader of Canada… in 85 seconds
