Former Bank of Canada governor Carney to speak at Liberal caucus

Mark Carney will give the Liberal Party some advice on the economy at the party's caucus retreat in Nanaimo, B.C., next week.

The former Bank of Canada governor has long been touted as a possible Liberal candidate or successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Carney will address Liberal MPs about the economy and a plan for growth as the caucus meets to plot strategy both ahead of the imminent return of Parliament and the looming federal election.

The Liberals are entering the caucus in disarray following more than a year of poor polling as they absorb the shock wave of the decision this week by the NDP to end the supply-and-confidence deal that had been ensuring the government's existence.

Trudeau is expected to get an earful from MPs, dozens of whom are facing the real prospect of losing their seats and who just spent the summer in ridings where Canadians were lukewarm to their offerings.

Inflation and the economy

The handling of the economy — and specifically inflation, cost-of-living problems and housing affordability — have plagued the Trudeau Liberals, who have not been able to gain traction against the economic messaging of Pierre Poilievre and his Conservative Party.

Carney, the governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013 and the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020, is now the UN special envoy on climate action and finance.

Carney and Trudeau have been in discussions for months about what role he can play helping the party develop its economic policies and platforms heading into the next election.

He has long been in the mix as a potential Liberal candidate, but has not yet sought a nomination. He is also on most shortlists as someone expected to seek the Liberal leadership if Trudeau decided to step down.