Mark Carney considers running to replace Justin Trudeau after he resigned as Canada's Prime Minister
The former governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney is considering entering the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as leader of the Canadian Liberal Party.
Mr Carney - who ran the UK's central bank between 2013 and 2020 - has mooted a run for high offices after Trudeau's resignation yesterday following months of dire polls for his floundering Liberal government.
In a statement to the Financial Times, Mr Carney said: 'I'll be considering this decision closely with my family over the coming days.'
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Mr Carney told the Globe and Mail, a Canadian publication, that the 59-year-old was 'encouraged and honored' by voices of support from Liberal Party MPs and members.
Before he headed the Bank of England, the economists steered Canada through the financial crisis during his time as governor of the Bank of Canada from 2007 to 2013.
More recently, Mr Carney was one of Trudeau's top advisors and in September he was announced as the leader of a task force tackled with increasing Canada's economic growth.
Trudeau has frequently praised Mr Carney, even attempting to recruit him as finance minister, and last year he said: 'He would be an outstanding addition at a time when Canadians need good people to step up in politics.'
After nine years as Prime Minister the once popular Trudeau is now amongst the most disliked world leaders in the West.
The former governor of the Bank and England and Bank of Canada Mark Carney (pictured) is considering entering the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party
Justin Trudeau announcing his resignation as Canadian Prime Minister yesterday. His resignation comes following months of dire polls for his floundering Liberal government
Currently, Canada's Conservative opposition are enjoying a double digit lead in the polls with their leader, Pierre Poilievre, among the top contender to become the new prime minister
The number of Canadians who disapprove of him hit an eye-watering 70 per cent on the eve of his resignation.
His premiership has been sunk over its policies towards immigration, the cost of living and the affordability of housing.
Meanwhile, internal party divisions have dogged his government for months with MPs spooked by a number of polls as the once dominant Liberal Party faces a resurgent Canadian Conservative Party.
Trudeau has said he will stay in office until a new leader is chosen and Canada's parliament has been suspended until March 24.
It is likely the leadership race will be over by the end of the suspension but the party is yet to lay out a timeline.
Mr Carney is likely to join a crowded field of contenders looking to take over as Liberal Party leader.
This includes, Trudeau's former deputy Chrystia Freeland and transport minister Anita Anand.
However whoever wins is likely to face an immediate election with the looming threat that the minority government could be taken down by a no-confidence vote which would trigger a federal election - currently slated to take place in October.
Mr Carney during his time as governor of the Bank of England. a spokesperson for Mr Carney told the Globe and Mail, a Canadian publication, that the 59-year-old was 'encouraged and honored' by voices of support from Liberal Party MPs and members
After nine years as Prime Minister the once popular Trudeau is now amongst the most disliked world leaders in the West
Currently, Canada's Conservative opposition are enjoying a double digit lead in the polls with their leader, Pierre Poilievre, among the top contender to become the new prime minister.
Poilievre has led the Conservatives since 2022 and is a key candidate to replace Trudeau if voters boot the Liberals out of office in this year's election.
He campaigns for more oil and gas production and against Trudeau's botched immigration policy, which led to hundreds of thousands of arrivals, straining an already overheated housing market.
Poilievre says he could increase Canada's exports to the US and strike a 'great deal' with Trump, who has vowed to use punishing tariffs on Ottawa as a way to reduce a trade deficit.
Mr Carney has been critical of the Conservative leader in the past claiming his vision for the country is 'just slogans' and 'without a plan'.
Mr Carney is currently chairman of Canadian alternative investment firm Brookfield Asset Management.
Mr Carney has been critical of the Conservative leader in the past claiming his vision for the country is 'just slogans' and 'without a plan'
Dubbed the 'rock star banker' after his appointment to the Bank in 2013, he was the first foreign governor at the UK central bank since it was founded in 1694.
He also led efforts to support the UK economy through Brexit and the initial responses to the pandemic, although his successor Andrew Bailey took over in March 2020 as Covid-19 took hold.
Since his role at the Bank, he has held a number of posts in the finance sector and has worked as an adviser to Trudeau.
It is thought that whoever does replace Trudeau is likely to face an imminent general election as they will have to contend with a confidence vote soon after taking on the top job.
