Liberals in both of Barrie’s two federal riding associations say they will be ready for a national election.
And with new party leader — and soon to be prime minister — Mark Carney in place, local Liberals say they have the right person at the top.
“He’s one of the few people in all of Canada with the background, the intellect and knowledge of getting through a crisis,” said Ryan Ward, Barrie South-Innisfil Federal Liberal Riding Association chairman. “We have a crisis situation right now and it’s to the south of us.”
That would be U.S. President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs on Canadian goods entering America, and Canada’s counter-tariffs.
Alec Scott, Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte Federal Liberal Riding Association chairman, said Carney is the change the party needs.
“It was pretty clear the party had to rebrand itself and clarify its positions in response not only to the American threat that we’re facing right now, but also in response to just general shifts in public opinion following the pandemic,” he said. “And this was the right change to make.”
Carney was a first-ballot winner in the federal Liberal leadership race, which wrapped up March 9, taking almost 86 per cent of the votes. He easily outdistanced former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former government house leader Karina Gould and former Quebec MP Frank Baylis.
As the former Bank of Canada governor (2008 to 2013) and head of the Bank of England (2013 to 2020), Carney has unique credentials to lead a federal Canadian political party.
“He’s a much more business-like person, someone with clear credentials, someone that can negotiate (with Trump),” Scott said.
Carney has never been elected to Parliament, which Ward also sees as an advantage.
“A regular politician doesn’t necessarily have the background, the education, the knowledge in order to do that (deal with an economic crisis),” he said. “The fact that he’s not a politician makes him the perfect choice.”
Both Scott and Ward expect a federal election to be called soon, and both riding associations are in the process of picking local candidates.
Scott said campaign conditions would be better than in Ontario’s recent Feb. 27 election, held in real Canadian winter conditions.
“It would certainly be good to get out of the snow and ice, before campaigning happens,” he said. “If an election is called now, we will be on the tail end of (winter weather) here. It would be nice to have a little bit of a delay, just for practical reasons.”
Ward said Canadians are ready now for a federal election, which need not be held until October.
“Because we’ve expected this to happen,” he said, “regardless of our soon-to-be-former prime minister (Justin Trudeau) stepping down.”
Trudeau announced in early January that he was stepping aside as both Liberal leader and prime minister.
Parliament was prorogued or suspended until March 24, wiping the legislative slate clean and pausing business in the House of Commons and Senate.
In the coming days, Trudeau is expected to hand in his resignation as PM to Gov. Gen. Mary Simon.
Carney will then be sworn in as Canadian prime minister, name a new cabinet and decide on the process to reach a federal election.
Simcoe North's federal riding is held by Conservative MP Adam Chambers.
— With files by The Canadian Press