Mark Carney officially kicks off his campaign for Liberal leadership in Edmonton, marking a significant moment in Canadian politics.
He’s not the only one in the race, though. Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland and House leader Karina Gould are also expected to jump in soon. The deadline to declare is January 23, and candidates need to cough up a hefty $350,000 to enter.
The Liberals will pick their new leader on March 9, signaling the end of the Trudeau era. Carney aims to present himself as an outsider, distancing himself from the unpopular government of Justin Trudeau.
Meanwhile, Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives are ready to pounce, trying to link Carney to Trudeau’s declining popularity. They’ve been calling him “carbon tax Carney” and saying he’s just like Justin.
It’s still unclear how Carney will tackle the controversial carbon pricing system during his campaign. In a recent interview on “The Daily Show,” he was asked if he’s stuck with the “carbon tax bag.” He mentioned the need to address climate change without burdening Canadians, but he didn’t take a firm stance.
For years, Carney has been in the spotlight regarding his interest in leading the Liberal party. He passed on running in 2013 when Trudeau took the reins and led the party to a majority in 2015.
Starting his campaign in Edmonton lets Carney showcase his Alberta roots. He’s an Oilers fan and even worked as a newspaper boy in the city’s west end, as noted in a 2012 profile.
Alberta could become a fierce battleground between Carney and Freeland, both of whom have ties to the province. While conservative voters in Alberta might not be keen on helping the Liberals, the province is crucial for leadership hopefuls looking for support.
Under party rules, each of Canada’s 343 federal ridings counts for 100 points in the leadership race. Martha Hall Findlay, a former Liberal leadership candidate, pointed out that this means Alberta ridings could play a big role in deciding the winner.
She emphasized that many Canadians don’t realize how significant each riding’s equal weight is. Expect both Carney and Freeland to highlight their Alberta connections, especially since there are fewer Liberal members in those ridings.
