Ex-Central Banker Faces Off Against Seasoned Politician

The candidates vying to take charge of Canada after next week’s election have traveled very different paths on their way to national politics.

Mark Carney, the leader of the Liberal Party, has never held an elected position before.

The ex-central banker stepped into his role as Prime Minister just a few weeks ago, having jumped into the political arena and won the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as the head of the Liberal Party.

On the other hand, Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party leader, was first elected to Parliament in 2004 at just 25 years old. Over the last two decades in Ottawa, he has climbed the political ladder, honing his debate skills and launching sharp partisan attacks.

Whichever candidate forms the next government will face the challenge of navigating a tense relationship with Canada’s largest trading partner and once-closest ally, the United States, while dealing with President Donald Trump, who has floated the idea of making Canada a U.S. state.

Experience in Crisis

Carney hails from Fort Smith, a small community in Canada’s Northwest Territories that lies near the Arctic.

He was raised in Edmonton, where he participated in competitive hockey during his youth.

Carney attended Harvard University in the U.S. and the University of Oxford in England, where he began his career as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, operating out of major cities like New York, London, Tokyo, and Toronto.

Later, he transitioned into the Canadian public service, eventually becoming the governor of the Bank of Canada in 2008.

In 2013, British Prime Minister David Cameron appointed him to lead the Bank of England, making him the first non-British individual to take on the role.

Upon completing his term in London, Carney joined Brookfield, a major Canadian company, and served as an advisor to the United Nations, advocating for environmentally sustainable initiatives in finance.

Speculation about Carney’s interest in Canadian politics had circulated for some time. Following Trudeau’s announcement to resign, Carney moved quickly to enter the race.

Now at 60, he believes that his leadership during the 2008-2009 financial crisis and his time in charge during the unpredictable Brexit vote have equipped him to address the current challenges in Canada-U.S. relations.

Carney has referred to Trump as “the most serious crisis of our lifetime,” claiming the president seeks to undermine Canada for his own gain.

However, as a father of four and an avid marathon runner, he aims to project a sense of calm, assuring voters that he can reposition Canada on the world stage and reduce reliance on a country he now believes “we can no longer trust.”

Lori Turnbull, a professor at Dalhousie University, remarked that while Carney may not have the most dynamic communication style, he conveys an aura of reassurance and expertise.

“I’m Not Like Trump”

Poilievre has made a name for himself as a relentless critic of Trudeau, especially as the latter’s popularity waned during the latter part of his decade in power.

The conservative leader has drawn parallels to Trump, particularly due to his combative rhetoric regarding the media and his past declarations of wanting to be Canada’s “anti-woke prime minister.”

However, he has had to adjust his approach in light of polling data indicating that Canadians want a leader who can effectively contend with Trump.

“I am nothing like Trump,” Poilievre asserted on a talk show in Quebec earlier this month, highlighting his “humble beginnings.”

During the election debate this past Thursday, Poilievre used his closing remarks to tell voters that he was raised by a single mother who later had him adopted by educators.

He stated that his upbringing instilled the belief that hard work can lead to success, a promise he feels is currently unfulfilled for many Canadians.

Poilievre has claimed that he can stand up to Trump, while also criticizing the Liberal government’s economic management under Trudeau as leaving Canada exposed to U.S. aggression.

While he has made attempts to soften his rhetoric, University of Alberta professor Frederic Boily suggested that Poilievre may have missed the window to effect a meaningful change in his public image.

“To become prime minister, he needs to present a hopeful and optimistic vision, and he’s struggled to achieve that shift,” Boily commented to AFP.

Hailing from Calgary, Poilievre promotes policies favored by the oil industry, including new pipeline initiatives. He has garnered national support by opposing pandemic lockdown measures that some considered excessive.

He has won his Ottawa-area district eight times and served in the cabinet of former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Poilievre’s wife, Anaida, emigrated from Venezuela to Canada, and they have two children together.