Meet Mark Carney: The banker-turned-politician who took on Trump, led Liberals to victory in Canada

Mark Carney’s journey from governor of the Bank of England to becoming Canada’s full-term Prime Minister has been nothing short of extraordinary. Once known as the calm technocrat brought in to steady financial markets during crises, Carney is now heading towards securing a full mandate to lead his home country. As per the latest results, Liberals are ahead in 158 ridings, while the Conservatives lead in 147.

Carney, who only took over as Liberal leader following Justin Trudeau’s resignation, managed to transform what once looked like a certain Conservative landslide into a fourth consecutive term for his party. Although it remains unclear whether the Liberals have secured an outright parliamentary majority, their performance marks a stunning political turnaround in just a few short months.

The campaign had seemed destined to be a referendum on Trudeau’s decade in power, marred by rising living costs and public fatigue. However, Trump’s repeated attacks on Canada’s sovereignty, calls for it to become America’s "51st state," and new sweeping tariffs energised Canadian voters. Carney’s financial expertise and steady hand proved appealing to a country worried about economic fallout and national pride.

Despite having never served in Parliament before, Carney persuaded voters that his background as a crisis manager made him the best candidate to confront Trump’s threats. His promise to protect Canadian workers, cut middle-class taxes, maintain dental care, and return immigration to sustainable levels clearly resonated at the ballot box.

Who is Mark Carney?

• Born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and raised in Edmonton, Alberta.
• Studied economics at Harvard University and completed a doctorate at Oxford.
• Made his early fortune at Goldman Sachs, working in New York, Tokyo, London, and Toronto.
• Appointed Governor of the Bank of Canada in 2008, steering the economy through the global financial crisis.
• Became the first non-Briton to lead the Bank of England in 2013, helping stabilise markets after the Brexit vote.
• Served as a United Nations special envoy on climate action and finance after leaving the Bank of England.
• Chaired Brookfield Asset Management, one of Canada's largest investment firms, before entering politics.
• Campaigned heavily against Donald Trump’s annexation rhetoric, promising to defend Canadian sovereignty.
• Known for his technocratic style and crisis leadership, but won over voters by embracing a more combative, nationalistic tone during the election.