Yukon MP Brendan Hanley is putting his weight behind Mark Carney, a former bank governor who was born in the North, to become the next federal Liberal leader and Canada’s prime minister.
“This is a real contender, and he's got something solid to offer,” Hanley said.
Hanley spoke with the News by phone from the Edmonton airport on Jan. 17, on the heels of Carney’s official bid launch in the Alberta city the day prior.
Hanley said he has been hearing from Yukoners who weren’t going to support Liberal Leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau if he stayed on.
“Even they wouldn't come out and vote,” Hanley said.
Hanley said he got a call from Carney a couple of weeks ago as part of Carney’s outreach to Liberal caucus members amid the turmoil in the party. Hanley got to know Carney a bit better on a personal level when the two spoke for about 20 minutes during that call. Hanley said his colleagues have a fairly good idea of who is going to step forward, and who is not.
Hanley recognizes it is an “uphill battle” with his party trailing behind the Conservatives in the polls, but Carney gives them a chance.
Following conversations with Yukoners in recent weeks, Hanley announced his support for Carney’s bid in a post on Facebook that draws on Hanley's “renewed sense of hope” for Canada that comes with the Liberal Party of Canada’s leadership race.
Hanley’s statement notes U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats and other “economic disruptions” from the incoming administration south of the border will pile onto existing burdens like affording groceries, finding affordable places to live, facing floods and fires, and getting health care.
“Mark Carney is an experienced and thoughtful leader with a strong vision for what Canada can become: a Canada that we can build for our children and grandchildren even as we tackle the many threats that are making life difficult at the moment,” reads Hanley’s statement.
Hanley commented on how Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada who was appointed under former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, guided Canada through the 2008 financial crisis, and guided the United Kingdom through Brexit when he was governor of the Bank of England.
Hanley said Carney can make difficult decisions during tough times — and stand by them.
Hanley expressed confidence in Carney’s experience working with governments, world leaders and financial organizations around the world.
Hanley noted Carney was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and raised in Alberta. Hanley gave Carney props for having “greater familiarity with the North than any Prime Minister this country has had.”
“I feel that I'm in a position where I can hopefully influence and start to ensure that he becomes, from the very beginning, more and more familiar with the issues and priorities important in the North,” Hanley said.
Carney made a recent appearance on late-night U.S. television. During an interview on Jon Stewart’s the Daily Show, Carney called himself a political “outsider.”
Conservative Party of Canada Leader Pierre Poilievre already has a nickname for him: “Carbon Tax Carney.” Poilievre is painting Carney as the man behind the federal carbon tax. A Jan. 17 attack ad posted to X, formerly Twitter, by Poilievre shows Carney at the World Economic Forum, or WEF, where Carney sat on the foundation board.
As reported by the Canadian Press, during his leadership bid launch on Jan. 16, Carney indicated he resigned from roles he held on the WEF board, with the investment firm Brookfield Asset Management and with the payment-processing financial tech company Stripe, so he will not be in a conflict of interest as he seeks office.
In the wake of Trudeau announcing he will be stepping down as Liberal leader and prime minister, after his party finds a new leader, political observers have been watching some high-profile cabinet ministers contemplating making a run — or not. Several ministers have backed down, while others have yet to confirm their intentions.
As reported in the News, Hanley said he does not believe the Liberals would be able to form government in 2025 with Trudeau at helm. Hanley was among cabinet ministers and backbenchers who spoke out against their party leader before he announced his pending resignation.
“I certainly see a viable pathway ahead,” Hanley said when asked if the Liberals could form government under Carney’s leadership.
The field of contenders to replace Trudeau, reported in the media as of the morning of Jan. 17, includes Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste, Ottawa-area MP Chandra Arya, former Liberal MP and businessman Frank Baylis, and Chrystia Freeland.
Freeland posted on social media on Jan. 17: “I’m running to fight for Canada.”
Freeland, who stood by Trudeau’s side for years, resigned from cabinet and as Trudeau’s Finance minister last month, on the day the fall economic statement was set to be delivered.
Hanley said it wasn’t easy to make a choice against some of the potential candidates who he is aware of, like Freeland and Liberal House leader Karina Gould, who Hanley considers his friends.
He described Gould as young, smart and effective as House leader.
Hanley cited Freeland’s list of credentials and her proven record.
“She was put to the test, especially renegotiating NAFTA and being right there and working with Trump,” Hanley said.
However, Carney is a “wonderful alternative” to take on Poilievre’s Conservatives, per Hanley.
“When again consulting Yukoners, it became clear that Mark Carney is someone who really has an advantage, because he's coming from outside the party. He's coming from outside the political arena. He's bringing some new energy, some new life to leadership, plus he's bringing in all of that experience,” Hanley said.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
