NOT A POLITICIAN?
Carney made a fortune as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs before entering the Canadian civil service.
Since leaving the Bank of England in 2020, he has served as a United Nations envoy working to get the private sector to invest in climate-friendly technology and has held private sector roles.
He has never served in parliament or held an elected public office.
Analysts say his untested campaign skills could prove a liability against a Conservative Party already running attack ads accusing Carney of shifting positions and misrepresenting his experience.
The 59-year-old has positioned himself as a new voice untainted by Trudeau, who he has said did not devote enough attention to building Canada’s economy.
On Friday, Carney said Canadians “from coast to coast” wanted change, and referred to himself as a political outsider.
“It’s getting to the point where after two months I may have to start calling myself a politician,” he joked.
Trudeau has said he would agree on a transition of power once the new Liberal leader is in place, declining to give an exact date.
When ready, the pair will visit Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon – King Charles III’s official representative in Canada – who will task the new Liberal chief with forming a government.
The new prime minister may only hold the position for several weeks, depending on the timing and outcome of the looming election.
