OTTAWA | Mark Carney made a dull landing, but without a gaffe, in the world of politics.
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Even his French turned out to be completely understandable.
The more he let go of his notes, the better he got.
Pierre Poilievre can rest assured: he will still have the upper hand over Mark Carney if the latter becomes Liberal leader, from the point of view of mastery of both official languages.
Arrows towards Poilievre…
Lacking any experience in politics, Mr. Carney put forward his long track record during his campaign launch for the leadership of the Liberal Party, in his hometown of Edmonton where he spent a good part of his youth.
He promises “bold” ideas, not “slogans.”
“I recognize that this is not how politics is done these days, when career politicians rely on slogans, slander and punchlines,” he said, pointing to Pierre Poilievre.
Another way of saying that being a little flat and serious is not a bad thing in these troubled times.
“If you choose me as your leader, we will offer Canadians a clear choice in the next election: experience versus incompetence, a plan versus improvisation, calm versus chaos,” he continued.
Still, a little more energy on his part to whip his activists wouldn’t have done any harm.
-And towards Trudeau
The renowned economist also criticized the Trudeau government, particularly its economic record.
Covertly, he accused his party of being carried away by “far left” ideas that led to spending that Canada could not afford.
Ideas which underlie that “government is the solution to every problem” and whose “reflex is to spend” without resolving the crux of the matter: a lack of productivity and wealth.
“The Prime Minister and his team have too often looked away from the economy,” Mr. Carney said. “I won’t lose focus.”
During his career, Mark Carney successfully navigated the 2008 financial crisis as Governor of the Bank of Canada under Stephen Harper. He subsequently played the same role in England during Brexit.
His CV is impressive.
But in a world where the electorate distrusts elites and institutions, he will have to convince activists that his background is a strength and not a weakness.
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