Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to make his electoral debut in the upcoming federal election, contesting for the Nepean seat in the House of Commons.
This announcement follows the Liberal Party’s unexpected decision to revoke the candidacy of three-term MP Chandra Arya.
The ruling Liberal Party confirmed Carney’s candidacy for Nepean, a suburban riding in Ottawa, in a statement on Saturday. “We’re thrilled to announce that our Leader, Mark Carney, will be our candidate for Nepean in the next election,” the party stated, highlighting Carney’s deep ties to Ottawa, where he raised his family and built his career in public service.
Carney was sworn in as Canada’s 24th Prime Minister on March 14 and is looking forward to capitalise on the momentum generated by his recent leadership victory, replacing Justin Trudeau.
The Liberal Party’s decision to drop Chandra Arya has sparked controversy. Arya, who has represented Nepean since 2015, had already secured his nomination for the 2025 election before his candidacy was suddenly revoked. The party cited unspecified “new information” as the reason for the decision, but provided no further details.
Arya’s exclusion follows his earlier disqualification from the Liberal leadership race in January, a move he had criticised as raising “significant questions” about the legitimacy of the party’s internal processes. His removal from the Nepean contest has fuelled speculation about internal tensions within the Liberal ranks.
Despite his extensive background in finance—having served as Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England—Carney has never before held elected office. His bid for Nepean will serve as his first real test in retail politics.
The Nepean riding also holds strategic importance, as it borders Carleton, where Poilievre is seeking re-election. A Carney victory in Nepean could provide a crucial boost for the Liberals, who are aiming to stave off Conservative gains in the province of Ontario.
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