Mark Carney reaches out to dozens of Liberal MPs ahead of potential leadership campaign

Mark Carney, the former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, is actively considering running in a potential Liberal party leadership race should Justin Trudeau resign, sources tell CTV News.

Mark Carney, the former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor, is actively considering running in a potential Liberal party leadership race should Justin Trudeau resign, sources tell CTV News.

Carney’s potential leadership bid was first reported by the Toronto Star on Friday.

Calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign heated up following Chrystia Freeland’s stunning resignation from cabinet and have grown over the holidays, with most Liberal MPs now asking him to step aside. In response to a request from regional caucus chairs, CTV News has learned that a national caucus meeting is set for Wednesday where Trudeau will face his MPs for the first time since telling them he would reflect on his future over the winter holidays.

Since Boxing Day, sources say Carney has made and fielded dozens of calls to Liberal MPs and political organizers who view him as a potential replacement for Trudeau.

One source argues Carney’s economic credentials are seen as beneficial in potential tariff negotiations with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump and in improving the economic security of Canadians, many of whom have responded to a Conservative message focused on a lack of affordability.

Speculation over Carney’s leadership aspirations and attempts by the Trudeau government to recruit him have been ongoing for months.

Last summer, Trudeau confirmed to reporters that he had been talking to Carney about joining federal politics and later in September, he appointed the former central banker to be a special economic advisor to the Liberal party.