In the Weekly Wrap, editor-at-large Sean Speer analyses, exclusively for Hub subscribers, the big stories shaping politics, policy, and the economy in the week that was.
Mark Carney made the most of his political opportunity—but can he keep the momentum going?
The end of the parliamentary session brings to a close a rather extraordinary year in Canadian politics.
It’s easy to forget that the year actually began with Justin Trudeau still as prime minister and finishes with Mark Carney in the job and looking increasingly ascendant. The year ends with Carney in a strong position, closing in on a majority government and enjoying significant popular support. Floor-crossing speculation persists, and one gets the sense that it’s only a matter of time before he has a functional, if not an actual, parliamentary majority.
There’s much to be said about what has unfolded over the past twelve months. Perhaps the most significant takeaway is that Carney has proven far more effective and shrewder than many anticipated.
When he first burst onto the scene, the prevailing view was that he would succumb to the same challenges that plagued Michael Ignatieff: a “non-politician politician” ill-suited for the rough-and-tumble of public life, particularly given his deep corporate ties in the age of populism.
Yet Carney’s early commitment to repeal the consumer carbon tax—a signature policy of the Trudeau government and one that he himself had long championed—signaled something important. He’s since adopted several Conservative priorities, shed the excesses of the Trudeau-era progressivism, and seized on the political opportunity presented by President Trump’s threats and provocations. It all reveals someone highly adept at politicking.
Mark Carney's political rise has been surprising. What key policy shifts have contributed to his ascendance?
Despite political gains, what major economic challenges loom for Prime Minister Carney's government?
The immigration debate highlighted differing views. What was a core argument for increasing immigration levels?
Comments (5)
My crystal ball clearly malfunctioned as I certainly did not anticipate the Liberals winning the last election. While Trump’s rants and Poilievre’s own weaknesses were factors, Carney deserves full points as a political operator in rescuing the Liberal Party of Canada this year.
The comparison to Ignatieff wasn’t valid as Ignatieff was never a bureaucrat and Carney was. A senior bureaucrat is hard to distinguish in poor light from a politician. While not all EXs would make great politicians, a successful senior EX functions much like a politician giving him or her a solid background to launch into politics.
While I’ve been happy to see Carney swing the party (rhetorically) to the centre from the Trudeau era progressive NDP clone it became, I was skeptical and remain so. After years of decline, Canada needs bold action and thus far he seems to only have half-way solutions. He will no doubt have some successes but this isn’t the serious action we need.