TORONTO (AP) – Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly will allow former central banker Mark Carney to become Canada’s next Liberal leader and prime minister, an official source close to Joly said Sunday.
Joly’s endorsement comes as former finance minister Chrystia Freeland begins her campaign on Sunday to replace Justin Trudeau, who remains prime minister until a new Liberal Party leader is elected on March 9.
The source said Joly believes Carney, the first non-British person to run the Bank of England since its founding in 1694 and former head of Canada’s central bank, is the best person to deal with US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs on Canada.
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The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly ahead of the announcement, noted that Carney helped Canada avoid the worst crisis of 2008 while leading the country’s central bank. He also helped the UK manage the post-Brexit consequences during his 7-year tenure as governor of the Bank of England.
Leading the way in the leadership of the Liberal Party are Carney and Freeland, whose sudden resignation last month forced Trudeau out. The Liberal Party membership will elect a new leader.
Joly himself was considered a candidate for the leadership but decided not to run to help the government deal with the threat of Trump. His support for Carney gives him strength in Quebec, where Joly is from.
Freeland announced his resignation from Trudeau’s Cabinet on December 16, criticizing some of Trudeau’s economic priorities in the face of Trump’s tax threats. The move stunned the country and raised questions about how long the increasingly popular Trudeau could last in office.
The next Liberal leader could be the longest-serving prime minister in the country’s history. All three opposition parties have vowed to topple the Liberal minority government with a vote of no confidence after parliament resumes on March 24. An election is expected this spring.
Trudeau announced his resignation on January 6 after losing support in his party and the country.
The political upheaval comes at a difficult time for Canada. Trump keeps calling Canada the 51st country and threatens to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods.
Trudeau told Freeland last month that he no longer wanted him to serve as finance minister, but he could continue as deputy prime minister and a key figure in US-Canada relations.
Freeland resigned soon after and released a fiery letter about the government that appeared to be the last for the embattled leader.
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