Former central banker Mark Carney will become Canada’s next prime minister and replace Justin Trudeau. Here’s what to know about him
Former central banker Mark Carney has been elected as Canada’s next prime minister following a decisive victory in the Liberal Party leadership vote in Toronto, ON.
Carney is 59. He was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, on March 16, 1965, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta.
Credentials
Carney previously served as the head of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013 and later led the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020. His tenure at the Bank of Canada notably saw him navigating the country through the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis before he was tapped to become the first non-Brit to helm the Bank of England in its long history dating back to 1694.
In 2020, he began serving as the United Nations’ special envoy for climate action and finance.
Prior to his central banking roles, Carney had a career at Goldman Sachs, spanning various global financial hubs such as London, Tokyo, New York, and Toronto. He transitioned to a public sector role in 2003 when he was appointed as the deputy governor of the Bank of Canada, marking his entry into the realm of monetary policy with no prior political experience.
Education
Carney received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University in 1988, and master’s and doctoral degrees in economics from Oxford University. Like many Canadians, he played ice hockey, serving as a backup goalie for Harvard.
Citizenship
Carney has Canadian, U.K. and Irish citizenship. He has moved to eventually have solely Canadian citizenship, which is not required by law but seen as politically wise.
Family
His wife Diana is British-born and he has four daughters.
Polls
His chances of remaining prime minister for more than a few weeks seem to be improving. In a mid-January poll by Nanos, the Liberals trailed the opposition Conservatives and their leader Pierre Poilievre 47% to 20%. This week the latest poll has Liberals at 34% and the Conservatives at 37%.
