Liberals hire Mark Carney to head party’s economic ‘task force’ ahead of election

OTTAWA — Former central banker and rumoured leadership contender Mark Carney will serve as chair of a Liberal party task force on economic growth, the party announced in a press release on Monday.

Carney, who served as governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, will “help the Liberal Party of Canada develop and shape ideas for the next phase of Canada’s strategy for near- and longer-term economic growth and productivity,” reads the press release.

The news came as the Liberal caucus is set to meet in Nanaimo, B.C., where Carney will be speaking to MPs on the topic of growth and the economy.

“Throughout his extensive career both in public service and the private sector, Mark Carney’s ideas, deep experience, and proven economic leadership have made a bedrock contribution to a better economic future for all Canadians,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“Mark’s unique ideas and perspectives will play a vital role in shaping the next steps in our plan to continue to grow our economy and strengthen the middle class, and to urgently seize new opportunities for Canadian jobs and prosperity in a fast-changing world.”

With the NDP pre-emptively pulling out of their supply-and-confidence agreement last week, the Liberals have found a way to delay a possible election.

The new task force will be holding meetings and events to hear from Canadians “in the weeks and months ahead,” and will share recommendations in a report with Trudeau and the Liberals’ platform committee as the party prepares for next year’s election.

“The world is becoming more divided and dangerous, but the hard work of Canadians means we can manage these risks and seize the enormous opportunities in the new global economy,” said Carney.

“Canada’s Liberals have achieved real progress for all Canadians. With a winning growth plan, we can build the strongest economy in the G7 and an even better future for all.”

Speaking in Nanaimo, Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer said Carney’s new appointment as economic adviser is “just a smoke and mirrors gimmick.”

“At the end of the day, Mark ‘Carbon Tax’ Carney loves the same policies that Justin Trudeau has imposed on Canadians. They are basically the same people, out-of-touch elites that believe that they know better than hardworking Canadians,” he said.

“They are basically the same person, and the results for Canadians will not change.”

The Liberal party did not immediately explain why Carney’s new role is with the party itself, and not a government entity such as the Prime Minister’s Office or the Privy Council Office, nor did it say who else would be appointed on the task force on economic growth.

But the news puts an end — for now — to the ongoing speculation around Carney’s future within the Liberal party and whether he is a team player at a time of great difficulty.

Trudeau will be facing the national caucus for the first time since the party’s loss in a Toronto byelection, which sparked calls for him to step down or at least enact a change in strategy, and days before he could potentially lose another seat in Montreal.

But enthusiasm is sorely lacking amongst Liberal ranks. Many MPs have simply opted to not travel to Nanaimo. Their national campaign director, Jeremy Broadhurst, has announced he will be stepping down. And many chiefs of staff have been quietly leaving.

Health Minister Mark Holland downplayed the lack of enthusiasm within his party and said that the stakes of the next election could not be any higher.

“There will be a choice sometime over the next year about the kind of country we have. It’ll be a question about whether or not all people have access to dental care or not. It’ll be a question of whether or not we continue to build a national pharmacare program,” he said.

“Look, it’s easy to criticize, and certainly (Conservative Leader Pierre) Poilievre has done that well, but I have certainly never been more motivated in my life, over eight elections, to counter what he would seek to do to this country,” he added.

Liberal MP Jaime Battiste said he is confident in his party’s legacy but insisted there is “so much more left to deliver” before Canadians head to the polls next.

“I know that everyone thinks that new leadership candidates or an election is the sexiest idea out there, but I think we have a year left to continue to deliver for Canadians.”

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