Who might replace Trudeau as Liberal Party leader?

Trudeau himself admitted that he had long been trying to recruit Mark Carney to his team, most recently as finance minister.

“He would be an outstanding addition at a time when Canadians need good people to step up in politics,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a Nato conference in July 2024.

Carney, 59, who has been serving in recent months as a special adviser to Trudeau, has long been considered a contender for the top job.

The Harvard graduate has never held public office but has a strong economic background, serving at the top of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England.

He also brings with him expertise on environmental matters through his role as the United Nations special envoy on climate action, recently calling the goal of net zero “the greatest commercial opportunity of our time”.

Carney is a champion of some Liberal policies that have been unpopular within the country’s conservative circles like the federal carbon tax policy, the party’s signature climate policy that critics argue is a financial burden for Canadians.

He has also already criticised Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, saying his vision for the future of the country is “without a plan” and “just slogans”.

“I’m the one in the conversation who’s actually been in business, who actually is in business, and makes decisions,” he said.