Mark Carney, the former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, has formally announced his candidacy for leader of Canada’s governing Liberal Party. The 59-year-old economist made the announcement in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, marking a significant move into Canadian politics.
Carney’s bid is seen as an attempt to ground himself in Canadian roots and distinguish himself from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his intention to resign after nine years in office. Carney has recently served as an economic advisor to Trudeau but is not an elected member of the government.
Under Liberal Party rules, any member can run for leadership, and Carney intends to seek a seat in parliament in the next election. His campaign focuses on addressing challenges facing Canada, including a housing affordability crisis, stagnant wages, and climate change.
Carney has extensive economic experience, having worked at Goldman Sachs and serving as Canada’s central banker from 2008 to 2013. He also led efforts to support the UK economy during Brexit and is an advocate for environmental sustainability.
His opponents in the Liberal leadership race include former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, who announced her bid earlier this month. Whoever wins will face off against the opposition Conservatives, who have a strong lead in the polls. Carney has criticized Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s ideas as “naive” and “dangerous.” The Liberals are scheduled to elect their next leader on March 9.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vppxe99ndo