TORONTO — Mark Carney, a former central bank executive, is set to become Canada’s new prime minister following a decisive victory in the Liberal Party leadership contest. Carney, who is 59, was born on March 16, 1965, in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and grew up in Edmonton, Alberta.
Carney brings extensive financial expertise to his new role. He served as Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013, a tenure during which he played a crucial role in navigating the nation through the global financial crisis. His leadership capabilities led to his historic appointment as Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020, marking him as the first non-British individual to hold the position since the institution’s founding in 1694. In recent years, Carney has engaged with international climate policy, serving as the United Nations’ special envoy for climate action and finance.
Before embarking on his central banking career, Carney gained valuable experience at Goldman Sachs, working in major financial centers such as London, Tokyo, New York, and Toronto over a span of 13 years. Despite his extensive financial career, Carney steps into the political arena with no prior political experience. He assumed his first governmental finance role as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada in 2003.
Regarding his academic background, Carney holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University, achieved in 1988, and both a master’s and a doctoral degree in economics from Oxford University. Adding to his well-rounded persona, Carney played ice hockey at Harvard, taking on the role of a backup goalie.
Possessing Canadian, U.K., and Irish citizenship, Carney plans to eventually hold only Canadian citizenship—a move not legally necessitated but considered politically advantageous.
On a personal note, Carney’s family includes his British-born wife, Diana, and their four daughters.
His political popularity seems to be increasing. A mid-January survey by Nanos revealed that the Liberal Party was trailing behind the Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre with 20% support compared to the Conservatives’ 47%. However, recent polling shows the Liberals closing the gap, holding 34% compared to the Conservatives’ 37%.
