'I've helped save two economies': Mark Carney announces Liberal leadership bid in Edmonton

Mark Carney has announced his candidacy for the Liberal Party leadership.

Speaking in Edmonton, the former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor spoke about the importance of “community.”

He said “our times are anything but ordinary” and that “the system is not working as it should.”

“People are anxious,” he added. “No wonder. Too many are falling behind, too many young people can’t afford a home, too many people can’t find a doctor.”

He also discussed Donald Trump's threat of "economic force" against Canada and the challenges of climate change.

Carney took the opportunity to attack Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre, too, branding him a "lifelong politician" with "bad ideas" who would struggle to negotiate with Trump.

He said there are "many, many, many differences" between himself and Poilievre, including that the opposition leader is "out chasing endorsements from Donald Trump and Elon Musk."

Carney, meanwhile, will focus on "getting the economy back on track."

"I've helped save two economies," he said, referring to his time as the head of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England during, respectively, the 2008 financial crash and Britain's vote to leave the EU.

Poilievre has long branded the former central banker "Carbon Tax Carney" for his enthusiasm for the measure and said he's "just like Justin."

Criticizing Justin Trudeau, whom he has advised on economics since last summer, Carney said the prime minister had let his focus wander from the economy too often.

I’m in. 🇨🇦https://t.co/yH4HkAjL0V pic.twitter.com/DbBXcrqDKF

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 16, 2025

He, however, won't lose focus on the economy, he said.

Carney also said taxes on the middle class are too high, Ottawa has underinvested in the economy and bemoaned the fact that many Canadians are struggling to afford groceries.

He is expected to be joined in the race by two other big-name Liberals: Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould.

They are yet to announce their candidacies but have are widely reported to have laid the groundwork to declare soon.

Let’s have some fun!

Every 20 minutes, I will post quotes from Mark Carney supporting carbon taxes, including his demands that these taxes go up faster.

That’s why they call him “Carbon Tax Carney.”

Hold on to your wallets!

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 16, 2025

The winner of the race is set to be announced on March 9.

Whoever that is will also become prime minister, though perhaps not for long – the NDP, Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois have all said they'll vote down the Liberal minority government as soon as possible, thus forcing an election.

If the government somehow cut a deal with one of the smaller parties and survived, then an election would be held on Oct. 20 at the latest.