The Liberal Party’s leadership race ended yesterday with Mark Carney, the former Bank of Canada governor, winning the leadership by a stunning 85 percent of the vote. This coronation, however, wasn’t exactly the thrilling democratic process that many would hope for in a leadership race. Behind the scenes, the Trudeau machine—led by key advisors Gerald Butts and Katie Telford—appears to have orchestrated this outcome in a way that leaves many questioning the legitimacy of Carney’s leadership and the future of the Liberal Party.
The recent bump in the Liberal Party’s polls, which some have likened to the rise of Kamala Harris in the U.S. Democratic primaries last year, is suspiciously similar to Carney’s coronation. It’s a short-term sugar high. While there’s no denying that Carney is a highly experienced and capable individual, there is a sense that this “bump” is more about the machinery behind the scenes than about real grassroots excitement. Carney’s style, which has been described as “dry” and “uninspiring,” doesn’t have the same magnetic energy that marked Justin Trudeau’s initial rise to power or even Pierre Poilievre’s more recent appeal. Carney’s leadership style seems destined to offer more of the same. It’s hard to see how he stands apart from Trudeau, much less as a new direction for the country.
ABOVE: Mark Carney, the former Bank of Canada governor, wins the federal Liberal leadership race with a stunning 85 percent of the vote. Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien proclaims “Vive le Canada”. (PHOTOS: JEAN-MARC CARISSE)
To truly grasp the Liberals’ shameless desperation to hold on to power, look no further than Carney’s first announcement as leader. He’s ditching the Trudeau carbon tax. Cue the applause from Liberal supporters in the room and the bizarre statements from the CBC and other legacy media, all praising his “bold” decision. But let’s be clear—those cheers weren’t really for Carney. They were for Pierre Poilievre.
After all, it was Poilievre who tirelessly campaigned against the carbon tax, and it is as a direct result of his tenacity that the tax has been cancelled. It’s become a political poison pill for the Liberals. Now Carney, who once helped architect the policy as an advisor to Trudeau, suddenly declares he’ll scrap it. However, there is a catch to Carney’s cancellation. He’s shifting it from a consumer-based tax to industries, who will just pass the cost right back to consumers. Same tax, new spin. So, while the Liberals are busy congratulating Carney for “solving” the problem he helped create, they should really be raising a glass to Poilievre—the one who’s been right about the carbon tax from the start. But hey, why not cheer for the guy who’s finally jumping on the bandwagon? Politics, after all, is full of surprises… and a bit of ironic hypocrisy.
Contrast Carney’s rise with the fervent momentum surrounding Poilievre and his Conservative Party. Over the past two years, Poilievre has addressed over 300,000 Canadians in 625 town halls and community events across the country, establishing a level of engagement that Carney cannot hope to match. On the same day the Liberals were hosting an event to choose their new leader, Poilievre hosted a rally in London, Ontario, which drew close to 2500 people—far more than the crowd for Carney’s leadership coronation in Ottawa. This rallying cry from Poilievre’s supporters isn’t just a flash in the pan; it’s the product of a campaign built on real outreach and a strong connection with Canadians.
Poilievre’s social media presence further underscores his dominance in the public sphere. His podcast with Jordan Peterson has amassed over 43 million views on X (formerly Twitter) and more than 5 million views on YouTube, further solidifying his role as a rising political force. Meanwhile, a recent poll from 338 Canada showed that the Tories maintain a 20-point lead over the Liberals—an immense margin in Canadian politics.
With Poilievre’s dynamic campaigning and near-perfect command of the French language, his ability to connect with Canadians across linguistic and cultural divides remains a key strength. Not to mention, the Tories’ impressive fundraising efforts ensure that they’ll be well-equipped to take on the Liberals in an eventual election.
What further complicates matters for Carney is that his leadership is not the product of a democratic contest in the traditional sense. The public was never given a real chance to weigh in on his candidacy, which brings into question the legitimacy of his mandate. As one of the more high-profile political figures in Canada’s recent history, Carney’s ascent to the top position feels like the result of backroom maneuvering by the Liberal Party elite, not the will of the people. This raises the stakes for Carney: he must call an election in the coming days to consolidate his power and demonstrate that he has a legitimate mandate from Canadians, not just from a small circle of insiders.
Carney faces another challenge—many sitting Liberal MPs are opting not to run in the next election. In fact, one in five current Liberal MPs has already announced they won’t seek reelection. This exodus sends a clear signal: many within the Liberal Party do not see Carney’s leadership as a viable path forward. The party is, in essence, in a state of flux, with much of its base and its leadership unsure of what the future holds.
For Carney, the situation is clear: he is at his peak right now, but his popularity could fade as quickly as it surged. The reality is that he has been anointed by a small group of insiders, and the longer he waits to secure the approval of the Canadian public through an election, the more the window of opportunity closes. His leadership feels preordained, but without the mandate of a democratic election, his hold on power could be precarious.
Moreover, the fact that the NDP’s polling numbers have fallen to their lowest in three decades—with some of their base possibly defecting to Carney’s Liberals—may give the appearance of an uptick for the Liberals, but it’s unclear whether this boost will be sustained in a general election. If anything, it’s more likely that Carney’s moment in the sun will eventually give way to Poilievre’s consistent and robust campaign.
In the coming weeks, Canadians will have a clear choice: do they stick with the status quo Liberals, reinvented on the surface by replacing Trudeau with Carney, or do they embrace the fresh energy and ideas offered by Poilievre and the Conservatives? The Liberals are in a precarious position, with Carney’s legitimacy in question, the NDP’s decline, and Poilievre’s growing strength. But one thing is clear: Carney must call an election soon to make his case to Canadians. Without it, his leadership will remain just a “faux popularity” built on party elites, not the will of the people.
