IN-DEPTH: What does Carney’s signature say about his personality? The answer may (or may not) surprise

Most Canadians are carrying around Prime Minister Mark Canrney’s autograph in their pockets without even knowing it.

That’s because his name appears on every piece of paper (or plastic) currency issued from 2008 until 2013 when he served as Governor of the Bank of Canada.

Now it will appear on the law of the land — assuming he’s around long enough as prime minister to sign any actual legislation, apart from the writ to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election. But what that series of squiggles reveals about his personality may or may not surprise Canadians before they head to the polls later (or sooner) this year.

To be sure, Canadians know little about the man apart from the fact that he comes across as studious and serious like most bankers do.

But the science of graphology or hand-writing analysis — and experts agree it is a science — offers some insightful clues. Assuming cursive is still taught in school, everyone is instructed to write letters of the alphabet in a very deliberate and specific fashion.

That everyone’s handwriting is different is a testament to the conscious or subconscious ways each person subverts those rules to their preference or circumstance. 

Although it is by nature a subjective intrpretation, signatures have been a legal way of identifying people since the Statute of Frauds Act was passed in England in 1677.

As far back as 1887, the Ohio Supreme Court  "recognized the importance of handwriting as a means of identifying a person," including criminals. 

Carney’s signature suggests a man who is confident and deliberate, being fairly legible with uniform sizing of capital and lower case letters and a consistent slant — all signs of intelligence and purporse according to various websites devoted to the craft of analyzing handwriting.

Yet the most prominent feature of Carney’s script is that reverse stroke and loop on the tail of the letter Y at the end of his name — universally known as ‘the felon’s claw’.

And that distinct pattern denotes dishonesty, deceit, duplicity and outright guilt. Although it doesn’t suggest that he has done anything legally or morally wrong, the bad news for Carney is that the graphology liturature is almost universally consistent that his handwriting displays traits associated with dishonesty. 

“Yes, it is very reliable way to determine someone’s personality,” said Calgary graphologist Kenneth Davies, who is only one of two or three professional experts in Alberta and Saskatchewan who are called on by the courts to authenticate documents.

“From a skilled analyst you will get very accurate and reliable results,” he told The Western Standard. "Courts accept it and that's the expertise they rely on."

During his 40-year career Davies has detected fraudlent autographs on everything from legal documents to forged Beatles memorabilia. He's also appeared on the television series The Curse of Oak Island to examine historical documents.

And he’s also been called to testify on specific personality traits in criminal cases.

While he was reluctant to comment specifically on Carney’s signature patterns or what it means about his personality, Davies did note that the prevalence of the ‘felon’s claw’ is fairly consistent among criminals and fraudsters and otherwise dishonest personalities. However he was also quick to note that he’d have to see a body of Carney’s printed writing to make a full assesment.

Some of history’s biggest mass murderers, thieves and charlatans have it in common, including Jesse James, Adolf Hitler, Tony Robbins and even Meagan Markle feature it in their writing.

Contrast it with former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s. His loopy shapes and over size capital letters suggest traits of 'frivolity,' 'triviality' and exaggerated self importance.

The variable slant suggests indecisiveness and a lack of confidence. The way-over extended open loop on the ‘J’ suggests an outgoing, promiscuous nature with unmet sexual desires. 

Davies agreed Donald Trump's suggests a person who is focused and forceful, with exaggerated self confidence with strong downward force applied on the pen.

Again, these are general observations that have to be taken into proper context. Davies also noted that it is made more difficult to try to analyze a mimeographed or replica signature like that found on a $20 bill or on a computer screen.

“There’s only so much you can glean from it,” he said. “It’s almost like a photocopy.”