By Barry Ellsworth
TRENTON, Canada (AA) - Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney declared Thursday that he is entering the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party.
If he wins, Carney could become the next prime minister in the federal election later this year.
“I’m doing this because Canada is the best country in the world, but it still could be better,” he told a crowd of supporters at a press conference in Edmonton, Alberta.
A Harvard University graduate, Carney became governor of the Bank of Canada in 2008, and after serving five of a seven-year term and guiding the country though the 2008-09 recession, he left to become head of the Bank of England in 2013. He completed his term in 2020 after laying the economic groundwork to pilot Britain forward during the first part of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve helped manage multiple crises and I’ve helped save two economies,” he said. “I know how business works, and I know how to make it work for you.”
Carney said Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre is the “worst possible” person to go toe-to-toe with US President-elect Donald Trump at the bargaining table.
“While I’m focused on building our economy, he (Poilievre) is out chasing endorsements from Donald Trump and (US tech billionaire) Elon Musk,” said Carney, who is entering the political arena for the first time.
“I’m not the usual suspect when it comes to politics, but this is no time for politics as usual,” he said. “It’s not the time for lifelong politicians such as Pierre Poilievre.”
Carney did not spare criticism of Trudeau, the man who led the Liberals to three election wins beginning in 2015.
“The prime minister and his team let their attention wander from the economy too often,” he said. “If you remember one thing I say today, I am going to be completely focused on getting our economy back on track.”
Carney is the first to enter the leadership race. But another heavyweight -- former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland -- is expected to declare her candidacy any day now.