Pontiac’s Liberal Member of Parliament Sophie Chatel announced Jan. 15 she is throwing her support behind former central banker Mark Carney in his bid to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party.
“His exceptional mind, character, and record of leadership are what Canada needs and draw a sharp contrast with the empty slogans, mean-spirited political games, and simplistic solutions, devoid of scientific rigor, that have taken hold of the Conservative Party,” Chatel’s statement read.
Her Wednesday announcement came less than a week after she suggested, in a phone call with THE EQUITY, that she was still considering multiple candidates but would be looking for somebody with a strong economic vision.
On Friday of last week, Chatel said after some reflection and receiving about 50 emails from constituents, she decided to endorse Carney.
“For me and for many Liberals in the riding, Carney brings a renewed sense of hope,” Chatel said. She cited an email she received from a constituent who described Carney as an iron fist in a velvet glove. Chatel said she agrees with this description.
“That means you need somebody who is solid, but has the diplomacy to work the network and negotiate smoothly, but with determination, and ready to defend Canadian interest and sovereignty,” Chatel said. “That’s exactly what Mark Carney is.”
Chatel pointed to Carney’s handling of the 2008 financial recession as governor of the Bank of Canada and to his work as governor of the Bank of England through Brexit as examples of his success in managing economic crises.
She said she’s also worked with Carney in developing motions for various parliamentary committees.
“In finance committee I presented a motion on sustainable finance, and I worked on a similar one in the environment committee, and so we were in touch on that and we had a long discussion about how to lever the global investment pool that is ready to be invested in clean energy and other industries that will help the country decarbonize,” Chatel said.
Carney launched his leadership campaign at an Edmonton hockey rink on Thursday, a few days before both former Liberal finance minister Chrystia Freeland and Liberal House leader Karina Gould launched their bids over the weekend.
At his campaign launch event, Carney made a point of distancing himself from the governing Liberal Party.
“I know I’m not the only Liberal in Canada who believes that the Prime Minister and his team let their attention wander from the economy too often,” he said.
When asked whether she felt this was a fair assessment of the party she represents, Chatel dodged the question.
“It was a time where you needed to step up to prevent our economy from collapsing, when the covid crisis happened. So I do believe that the government had to spend in order to preserve the economic infrastructure from collapsing,” she said.
“But I do believe it’s important to focus now on the economy, and really restore fiscal prudence in the government.”
