The Opposition Conservatives sense a Trudeau resignation before the next election, and have even started to call Mark Carney “Carbon Tax Carney,” claiming the outsider will become the Liberal’s next leader. 

A number of Conservative MPs, including leader Pierre Poilievre, have used the nickname in recent days, as speculation grows Prime Minister Trudeau will step down before the next election scheduled for October 2025.

“The next leader of the Liberal Party, Carbon Tax Carney, has been giving speeches to Liberal insiders,” said Conservative MP Andrew Scheer on social media.

“He must come to the finance committee to answers q’s on how much he’ll raise the carbon tax and how much new debt he’ll rack up,” Scheer said.

The Liberals and NDP ended up voting against the motion in a finance committee meeting that would have compelled Carney to do so.

Conservative MP Michael Barrett also posted: “Mark Carney wants Trudeau’s job. So he supports the Liberal carbon tax on food, gas, & heat. He attacks ’s energy sector – but invests in oil & gas from dirty dictatorships.”

“Will the NDP protect their next liberal boss – or will they vote with Common Sense Conservatives?”

Who is Mark Carney?

Carney, an economist who served as the Bank of Canada Governor and more recently as the Bank of England Governor, hasn’t publicly expressed an intention to become Trudeau’s successor — though he said last year that he hadn’t ruled it out. 

Since then, he’s increased his public appearances and political commentary. 

Recently, after the Liberal’s released their 2024 budget, Carney criticized them for “constant spending” and excessive government handouts, but he also applauded the Liberals for their investments in AI and housing.

Trudeau on the brink

The Prime Minister is getting obliterated in the public-opinion polls, including one showing that Canadians dislike him specifically more than his Liberal Party. He recently stated he “thinks about quitting every day,” though he’s also vowed to remain PM into the next election.

Making matters complicated for the Liberals is the fact that, despite widespread disapproval of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, there seems to be no likable Liberal candidate waiting in the wings.

In a separate recent Nanos survey, among a list of preferred Liberal candidates that included Trudeau, deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, and housing minister Sean Fraser, “none of the above” won more votes than anyone.