Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly endorses Mark Carney for Liberal leader
Joly argues Carney has a clear vision and brings 'unparalleled economic experience'
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has endorsed Mark Carney in the Liberal Party of Canada's leadership race, arguing the economist has a "clear vision" for the future.
In a statement posted to social media, Joly said Carney "brings unparalleled economic experience, having served as governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England."
"During times of crisis, governments of all stripes turn to Mark, including during the 2008 global economic crisis and Brexit," Joly said. "He has a clear vision for a better and greener future for all of us and a clear plan to implement it."
The minister's endorsement, first reported by Radio-Canada, was released shortly before former finance minister Chrystia Freeland took to the podium in Toronto to deliver the first speech of her campaign to become Liberal leader.
According to a source with knowledge of Joly's decision who spoke to Radio-Canada, she was keen to make her announcement before Trump's swearing-in ceremony in Washington on Monday.
Radio-Canada's source stressed that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's return to power was a determining factor in the minister's decision to back Carney. Joly believes the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England is best suited to deal with the threat of a trade dispute with the United States.
"I trust that Mark will defend Canada's interests with a strong Team Canada approach," Joly wrote in her statement endorsing Carney.
Within Joly's circle, there are doubts about Freeland's ability to distance herself enough from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's legacy, having been his finance minister for over four years.
Carney's promise to tighten up public finances is "fundamental" in Joly's view, according to the source with knowledge of her decision. At Carney's campaign launch last Thursday, he declared the federal government "spends too much but invests too little."
Organization and strategy
Joly's decision to back Carney gives the former central banker a lift in Quebec, since Joly has an extensive network within the Liberal Party's base in the province.
The Radio-Canada source estimates hundreds of volunteers and organizers in Quebec will be actively supporting Carney's campaign. Overall, fieldwork will be crucial in the leadership contest since every riding in Canada will have equal weight in electing the next Liberal leader.
Joly has been able to develop her network within the Liberal Party since she co-chaired the 2021 election campaign with former minister Navdeep Bains. According to information obtained by Radio-Canada, Bains is also helping Carney's team mobilize in the Greater Toronto Area.
Joly intends to advise Carney and help him with his organization in Quebec, though her priority will remain handling the Canada-U.S. file, the source said.
Freeland has other ministers on her side, including Health Minister Mark Holland and Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier.
"Chrystia Freeland has always had Quebec and the French language at heart," Lebouthillier said in a social media post. "Having worked with her for over nine years, I can tell you she is the best person to embody the change we need at the Liberal Party of Canada."
Freeland gave her first interview since announcing her candidacy to a French-language media outlet on Friday. So far, Carney has not done an interview in French.
Carney has also been publicly endorsed by Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan.
Government House leader Karina Gould officially launched her leadership campaign Sunday morning at an event in her home town of Burlington, Ont.
MP Chandra Arya, who represents the Ottawa riding of Nepean; former Montreal MP and businessman Frank Baylis; and MP Jaime Battiste, who represents the Nova Scotia riding of Sydney-Victoria, have all declared they're running for the leadership.
Candidates have to declare their intention to run and pay the entry fee of $350,000 by Jan. 23. People can register with the party to vote in the leadership race up until Jan. 27.