What to know about Mark Carney, Canada's leader who will meet with Trump
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Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Leader Mark Carney speaks to volunteers and supporters during the Canada Strong Election Night event on April 28. Photo: Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday will meet face-to-face with President Trump, a sit-down that comes amid a deepening rift between the neighboring nations.
Why it matters: Trump's trade war and repeated annexation threats against Canada have upended the U.S.'s relationship with one of its closest allies.
The intrigue: Carney might not be in this position if not for Trump's provocations.
- Canada's Liberal party once seemed doomed to lose power, but saw its fortunes change as Trump's rhetoric and tariffs inspired concern among Canadian voters in last month's federal election.
- Carney sent a message to the White House during his victory speech last month, declaring the end of Canada's "old relationship of integration" with the U.S.
Here's what to know about the Canadian PM:
Mark Carney education and career
Carney was born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and attended Harvard University, where he earned a bachelor's in economics in 1988, according to his Bank of Canada bio.
- He received both a master's degree and a doctorate in economics from Oxford University in the '90s.
- Both of his parents were educators.
His 13-year career with Goldman Sachs took him to London, Tokyo, New York and Toronto before he transitioned to public service.
- One of his former colleagues at Goldman Sachs told The Telegraph that Carney left the company "right at the inflection point in his career."
Carney's history at Bank of Canada
Carney was appointed deputy governor of the Bank of Canada in 2003.
- Later that year, he became the senior associate deputy minister of finance.
- He held that position until he was appointed to the Bank's top job.
Flashback: As governor of the Bank of Canada, he helped the country navigate the 2008 financial crisis.
- In 2013, he was recruited to return to London as the governor of the Bank of England, where he became the the first non-Brit to run the institution since it was founded in 1694.
- He faced more tumult across the pond: Brexit. He raised alarms about the risks leaving the EU could pose to the economy — though some critics alleged he politicized the bank with his warnings, the Guardian reported.
Mark Carney's political career
After he left the Bank of England, Carney became the United Nations special envoy for climate action and finance.
- In 2020, he joined investment firm Brookfield Asset Management. A release announcing his appointment to the firm described him as a"longtime advocate for sustainability, specifically with regard to the management and reduction of climate risks."
- He advised Trudeau through Canada's COVID-19 economic response amid long-held speculation he had political aspirations.
In September of last year, he was tapped to chair the Liberal Party's Task Force on Economic Growth.
- In January, he formally launched his campaign to replace Trudeau, saying, "I'm not the usual suspect when it comes to politics but this is no time for politics as usual."
- Carney stepped into the international spotlight in March when Canada's ruling Liberal party chose the former central banker to succeed Justin Trudeau as the country's next prime minister. Carney won 85.9% of the vote to be elected Liberal Party leader.
- Carney was a newcomer to electoral politics in April's snap election, where he ran for parliament for the first time to represent a suburban Ottawa area.
Go deeper: Trump turns Canadian politics upside down
Editor's note: This story was updated with additional developments.
