Canada looks to ‘James Bond of banking’ as he takes on Donald Trump

Canadians expected the successor of Justin Trudeau to have a short term before losing majority support in parliament and heading to a mid-term poll that the Liberal Party was predicted to lose.

However, the surge of support for the former banker within the Liberal Party and outside has been such that the Conservative Party of Canada, which was ahead in the polls till January and favoured to win the next election, has been sliding in popularity polls, ceding ground to Mark Carney — who has been called the ‘George Clooney and James Bond of banking’.

Canada seems to have taken to his plain speaking and blunt messaging ever since he declared on 17 January 2025 that he would contest to get elected the leader of the Liberal Party in place of Trudeau. “The prime minister and his team let their attention on the economy wander too often…” he said of colleague Trudeau, adding, “I won’t lose focus.”

Asked if he stood a chance against the Conservative Party and its leader Pierre Poilievre, who was then favoured to win the election that is to be held by October 2025, he was equally blunt: “This is no time for lifelong politicians such as Pierre Poilievre,” he said.

“Sending Pierre Poilievre to negotiate with Donald Trump is the worst possible idea... I have helped manage multiple crises and I have helped save two economies,” Carney said. “I know how business works, and I know how to make it work for you.”

After winning the leadership race by an overwhelming majority, Carney has been even more outspoken and launched a scathing attack on two-time US president Donald Trump and his disruptive policies.

Parts of what he said in his victory speech on 10 March 2025 at the Liberal Party convention bear repetition: “The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country... Mr Trump is attacking Canadian workers, families and businesses. We cannot let him succeed.”

• “America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape or form. We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves.”

• “So, Americans should make no mistake: In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win. But this victory will not be easy. We are facing the most significant crisis of our lives. We will have to do extraordinary things together.”

• “Donald Trump has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, on how we earn a living. We can't let him succeed and we won't.”

• “My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect and make credible, reliable commitments to free and fair trade.”

• “Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. Think about that for a moment. If they succeed, they will destroy our way of life.”

• “America is a melting pot. Canada is a mosaic. America does not recognise differences...”

• “The joy of living, culture, and the French language are part of our identity. We must protect them; we must promote them. We will never, ever, trade them for any trade deal.”

• “It will take extraordinary efforts. This won't be business as usual. We will have to do things that we haven't imagined before, at speeds we didn't think possible. We will do it for the common good so that every Canadian benefits.”

• “Canadians can give themselves far more than Trump can ever take away.”

Carney, 59, is a highly educated economist with Wall Street experience, widely credited with helping Canada dodge the worst of the 2008 crisis while heading the country’s central bank.

He also helped the United Kingdom manage Brexit during his seven-year tenure as governor of the Bank of England.