Mark Carney, a former central banker, is set to become Canada’s next prime minister following a decisive victory in the Liberal Party leadership vote.
Carney, 59, was born on March 16, 1965, in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and grew up in Edmonton, Alberta.
He served as the Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013 before taking on the role of Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020.
After guiding Canada through the 2008 financial crisis, he made history as the first non-British individual to lead the Bank of England since its establishment in 1694.
In 2020, he took on the position of the United Nations’ special envoy for climate action and finance.
Before entering public service, Carney spent 13 years as an executive at Goldman Sachs, working in London, Tokyo, New York, and Toronto.
He joined the Bank of Canada as deputy governor in 2003. Despite his extensive financial background, he has no prior political experience.
Mark Carney (Photo: Evan Buhler)Education
Carney earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University in 1988, followed by a master’s and doctorate in economics from Oxford University. During his time at Harvard, he played ice hockey as a backup goaltender.
Citizenship
Holding Canadian, U.K., and Irish citizenships, Carney has expressed his intention to retain only his Canadian citizenship. While not legally required, this decision is viewed as a strategic political move.
Family
Carney is married to Diana, who was born in the United Kingdom, and together they have four daughters.
Polling Trends
His prospects of maintaining the role of prime minister beyond the initial transition period appear to be improving.
In mid-January, a Nanos poll showed the Liberals significantly trailing the opposition Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, 47% to 20%. However, the most recent poll this week places the Liberals at 34%, narrowing the gap with the Conservatives at 37%.