Canada’s Liberal Party has elected Mark Carney as its new leader, positioning him to replace Justin Trudeau as the country’s Prime Minister. Carney’s victory was confirmed on the first ballot in a leadership race sparked by Trudeau’s January announcement of his intention to step down following mounting caucus unrest and the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, as reported by CTV News.
A seasoned economist and former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, Carney had been the frontrunner throughout the two-month leadership contest. His win means he will become Canada’s next Prime Minister within days.
Carney defeated three other contenders: former cabinet minister Karina Gould, former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, and businessman and former Liberal MP Frank Baylis. All four candidates were met with enthusiastic support as they addressed the crowd and thanked their supporters for bringing renewed energy to the party.
In total, 151,899 party members cast ballots in the leadership race. Using a ranked-ballot system where each riding carried equal weight, the majority chose Carney to lead both the party and the country. As leader, Carney will also spearhead the Liberal campaign in the likely upcoming federal election, which polls suggest will be a closely contested race against the Conservative Party.
Notably, Carney has never held elected office and is not currently a member of Parliament. It remains unclear in which riding he will run, but he has confirmed his intention to seek a seat in the House of Commons in the next general election.
Ahead of the leadership announcement, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reflected on the Liberal Party’s achievements over the past decade. In his address at the Liberal Leadership Convention, Trudeau expressed pride in his tenure. “I am damn proud of what we’ve done over these past 10 years for the middle class and the people working hard to join it,” he said.
As the party enters a new chapter, Trudeau called on supporters to uphold Canada’s values and continue striving to make the country the best in the world. “Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given,” he warned. “None of those happened by accident. None of them will continue without effort.”
Trudeau also recalled a historic moment from 60 years ago when former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson raised the Canadian flag on Parliament Hill, emphasizing the ongoing need for Canada to shape its future. “There are still so many more chapters to write,” Trudeau said.
Reflecting on his leadership journey since taking the helm of the Liberal Party in 2013 when it was a distant third in the political landscape, Trudeau said, “It’s when you try to count us out that we Liberals show our true mettle.” He also paid tribute to his longtime photographer Adam Scotti and chief of staff Katie Telford, who have supported him throughout his decade-long leadership.
With Mark Carney set to take over, Canada’s Liberal Party embarks on a new era, preparing for an imminent federal election and the challenges ahead. Carney’s leadership will be closely watched as he steps into his first political office at the nation’s highest level.
