'A decisive time': Mark Carney calls new role 'an honour,' dodges questions about running for office
In his first press conference on the job, newly appointed Liberal economic growth task force chair Mark Carney said it’s “an honour†to serve in his new role, but wouldn’t say whether he plans to run for political office, or whether he’ll recommend changing the controversial carbon tax.
“It's an honour to accept this role as chair of this new task force on economic growth for the prime minister, for the leader,†Carney said from the Liberal caucus retreat in Nanaimo, B.C. “It comes at, in my view, a decisive time for our economy, for our country.â€
“Every major economy is accelerating their energy transition, and being low carbon is becoming a key driver of competitiveness,†he said, adding Canada needs “real policies†when it comes to the energy transition, international trade, and artificial intelligence.
The Liberals announced on Monday that Carney — the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England — would serve as chair of a new Leader’s Task Force on Economic Growth, with an aim to “develop and shape ideas for the next phase of Canada’s strategy for near- and longer-term economic growth and productivity.â€
“If the prime minister of Canada asks me to do something, I will do it,†Carney said, when asked why he’s “hitching (his) wagon†to a struggling party.
“I have some experience in these issues, and I'm interested in helping our country to grow,†he continued. “I'm interested in doing something, not being something, and this is a decisive time for our economy.â€
Carney has fielded speculation for more than a decade over whether he’s planning to throw his hat in the political ring.
But when asked Tuesday whether his new role — and upcoming federal byelections — mean he’s more likely to get his name on a ballot, Carney wouldn’t directly say.
“I'm an outsider,†Carney said. “I'm providing a perspective, gathering opinions from interested Canadians, and feeding them in.â€
When pressed by reporters on whether he has political aspirations, Carney also said he’s “the catalyst in a much broader effort†when it comes to economic issues.
Carney also sidestepped when asked for his thoughts on the controversial federal carbon pricing program, namely whether he’ll recommend the government make changes to the policy.
While he emphasized the importance of moving toward low carbon when it comes to creating jobs, being competitive, and in trade negotiations, Carney didn’t comment on the carbon tax program specifically.
The Globe and Mail reported early in the summer that there was tension between Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and the Prime Minister’s Office, and there was ensuing speculation Carney could be tapped to replace her in some capacity.
But Freeland maintained she felt she had the prime minister’s support, and when asked about Carney, said at the time she speaks with him “often,†noting he’s her son’s godfather.
When asked about Carney’s new role at the caucus retreat Tuesday, Freeland said the former central banker is “a real addition to (the) team,†and called him a longstanding personal friend.
“He's someone who I talk to often, and whom I've talked to often about economic policy since becoming finance minister,†Freeland said.
Conservatives concerned about Carney
The Conservatives, meanwhile, are taking issue with Carney’s appointment.
Conservative MP Michael Barrett posted an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to social media Tuesday, calling on him to “stop shielding Mark ‘carbon tax’ Carney from disclosure laws,†and writing he is “deeply concerned†by the former central banker’s appointment as special advisor to the Liberals, rather than to the prime minister.
Carney is employed by the party. Barrett wants the Liberals give Carney an official government job, so he is subject to the disclosure rules, as politicians and public servants are.
“(It) is a deceitful attempt to shield Mr. Carney, your new de facto Finance Minister, from any public disclosure of which multinational corporations are paying him, and what conflicts of interest might exist between his private financial interests and the advice he is giving you,†the open letter reads.
Carney also works as the head of transition investing for Brookfield Asset Management, and as a United Nations special envoy on climate action and finance, among other board positions.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP needs to decide whether 4 million Canadians deserve dental care: minister
Procurement Minister and newly appointed Quebec lieutenant Jean-Yves Duclos is warning the NDP that the dental care program it helped put into place will be in jeopardy if it pulls its support from the governing Liberals.
How does your health measure up? Criticism of long-time tool used to track progress
Body mass index, a long-time tool used to measure a person's health, may soon be out the door as some health professionals push for a system they say is more accurate.
What is the U.S. Electoral College? America's path to the presidency, explained
In less than two months, Americans will go to the polls to choose their next president. But the process that translates those millions of votes into one seat in the Oval Office is much more complicated than a straight tally.
Coffee could be more than a morning pick-me-up, according to new research
A morning cup of coffee may do more than just perk you up, according to new research.
Kate, the Princess of Wales, makes first public appearance after cancer treatment
Kate, the Princess of Wales, made her first public appearance Sunday since she announced she had completed chemotherapy and would return to some public duties.
Childhood sleep issues may raise suicide risk, study finds
If your child sometimes has trouble sleeping, it may be easy to chalk it up to a phase they will grow out of one day. But a new study suggests possible serious consequences for this line of thought — such as a higher risk for suicidal ideation or attempts when they are older.
'Imminent catastrophe': Hezbollah hits back with more than 100 rockets across a wider and deeper area of Israel
Hezbollah launched more than 100 rockets early Sunday across a wider and deeper area of northern Israel, with some landing near the city of Haifa, as Israel launched hundreds of strikes on Lebanon. The sides appeared to be spiraling toward all-out war following months of escalating tensions.
Infectious disease physician Dr. Isaac Bogoch says whooping cough is most risky for unvaccinated infants, children and older people.
Sunken superyacht believed to contain watertight safes with sensitive intelligence data
Specialist divers surveying the wreckage of the US$40 million superyacht that sank off Sicily in August, killing seven people including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, have asked for heightened security to guard the vessel, over concerns that sensitive data locked in its safes may interest foreign governments, multiple sources told CNN.
Local Spotlight
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.
An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.
They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.
A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.
The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.
It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.