Liberal leadership contender Mark Carney has received endorsements from several prominent cabinet ministers and MPs, further solidifying his position in the race to lead the Liberal Party of Canada.
On Tuesday, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree, and former housing minister Sean Fraser publicly declared their support for Carney via social media. Fraser praised Carney in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, calling him “one of the most respected voices on the economy worldwide” and “a fundamentally decent person who cares deeply about this country.”
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault also voiced his endorsement during the Liberal cabinet retreat in Montebello, Quebec. Guilbeault emphasized his long-standing collaboration with Carney on issues such as green energy, climate change, and the financial sector’s role in sustainability.
“I’ve known Mark for many years,” Guilbeault said, adding that he believes Carney is the best candidate to present a strong and clear vision for carbon pricing and the fight against climate change.
Additionally, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera and Brampton Centre MP Shafqat Ali have extended their support to Carney. Both praised his vision for Canada’s future and his extensive experience in global economic leadership. Minister Khera highlighted Carney’s ability to address key challenges like affordability and healthcare, while MP Ali lauded Carney’s pragmatic approach to building a sustainable and inclusive economy.
Carney’s position on carbon pricing has attracted attention. While he hasn’t explicitly stated he would eliminate consumer carbon pricing, he has suggested any replacement must be equally or more effective. Guilbeault hinted that Carney may favor tightening industrial carbon pricing systems for large polluters if consumer pricing is removed.
Carney’s leadership rival, Chrystia Freeland, has indicated she would abandon consumer carbon pricing due to its unpopularity, though Guilbeault declined to comment on her stance.
Earlier this week, Carney secured endorsements from Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan, further consolidating his support among influential party members.
The Liberal Party announced adjustments to financing rules for leadership candidates, allowing sworn affidavits as proof of funds for the required $50,000 deposit, addressing potential delays caused by bank holds.
As of now, six candidates have declared their intention to run for the Liberal leadership: Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, former government House leader Karina Gould, Liberal MPs Chandra Arya and Jaime Battiste, and former MP Frank Baylis.
With endorsements from key ministers like Kamal Khera, Steven Guilbeault, and Mélanie Joly, and MPs like Shafqat Ali, Carney continues to emerge as a frontrunner in the race, combining global economic expertise with a vision for Canada’s future. The party now prepares for a pivotal leadership transition that could shape its path forward.