Former central banker and “outsider” Mark Carney is returning to his hometown to launch his campaign for the Liberal Party leadership in Edmonton, where he spent most of his childhood.
The former governor of both the Bank of Canada and Bank of England will make his announcement at 1 p.m. MST, marking his long-anticipated entry into federal politics following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation earlier this month.
Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal, who endorsed Carney's bid, praised the candidate's ability to navigate both economic opportunities and global challenges.
“In an era of global challenges, in a time of economic opportunity, Mark Carney has the experience required and the leadership skills needed to meet those challenges and take advantage of the opportunities,” Chahal said in a statement.
The choice of Edmonton carries special significance for Carney, whose father ran in the Edmonton-South riding for the Liberals in 1980, finishing second to Progressive Conservative Douglas Roche.
Carney's bid comes as the Liberals seek new leadership following Trudeau's January 6 announcement that he would step down amid declining poll numbers and internal party pressure from current Liberal MPs.
