Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault is lining up behind Mark Carney rather than Chrystia Freeland in the race to succeed Justin Trudeau at the head of the Liberal Party of Canada (PLC).
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“Throughout his career, he has demonstrated his ability and commitment to attracting investment to build a green, prosperous and robust economy. He has united businesses and world leaders around climate action,” Mr. Guilbeault said on his social media.
The Quebec minister, recognized for his commitment to the environment, described Mark Carney as a “climate leader” who is “the right person for the future of Canada.”
Mr. Carney worked at investment bank Goldman Sachs for more than a decade. He subsequently became governor of the Bank of Canada and then the Bank of England, before becoming the United Nations special envoy for climate finance.
-Earlier in the day, Mr. Carney also received the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, as well as Sean Fraser, the former Minister of Immigration who became Minister of Housing until his departure from the cabinet, in December.
For her part, Chrystia Freeland received the support of the Minister of Health, Mark Holland, as well as Diane Lebouthillier, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. The former Minister of Revenue, Marie-Claude Bibeau, also supports Mme Freeland.
Members of the PLC will elect their next leader on March 9, after a quick race.
The government’s House leader, Karina Gould, also entered the race last weekend.
Ottawa region MP Chandra Arya and former MP Frank Baylis are also on the starting line.
