Windsor-Tecumseh MP voices support for Mark Carney in Liberal Party leadership race

Irek Kusmierczyk has voiced support for Mark Carney to become the new leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister of Canada.

Carney was in Windsor on Wednesday where he announced he's committed to reaching NATO's military investment benchmark of two per cent of gross domestic product by the end of 2030, if he becomes prime minister.

Kusmierczyk, the Liberal MP for Windsor-Tecumseh, introduced Carney at the news conference, held at the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

"I am proud to welcome back to Windsor-Essex a great friend of our community, someone who knows how to build, someone who knows how to fight for Canada and fight for workers and for Canadians," Kusmierczyk said.

WATCH | Mark Carney speaking in front of the Gordie Howe bridge in Windsor, Ont.:

Carney vows to hit 2% NATO target by 2030, suggests spending more funds in Canada

8 hours ago

Duration 0:28

"I am proud to welcome back to Windsor-Essex, my friend, the next leader of the Liberal Party and the next prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney."

Carney — a former central banker — is among six candidates who have been approved by the party to run in the race to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The others are former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste, former government House leader Karina Gould and former Brampton, Ont., Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla.

Carney and Freeland are seen as the two front-runners in the race to succeed Trudeau, having secured the most caucus endorsements so far. 

Carney's announcement on Wednesday focused on laying out broadly what Canada needs to do to strengthen its position at home including its national security, regardless of Trump's tariff  threats.

"My government would work to reach two per cent of GDP in defence spending by the end of this decade and pull our full weight in NATO," Carney said.