PM taps Carney for economic advice

Trudeau hopes fresh blood will help turn the tide during a tumultuous time for party

- ALTHIA RAJ

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Mark Carney at the G20 Summit in 2018. Carney has been invited to this week's Liberal caucus meeting in B.C. to advise the party on an economic productivity plan and discuss ideas for economic growth among global changes.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney is scheduled to attend the Liberals’ summer caucus meetings in Nanaimo, B.C. where, starting Monday, Grit MPs will plot the return of Parliament and the next election.

Carney won’t be joining the Liberal team as a cabinet minister — despite earlier talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Instead, the likely future Liberal leadership candidate has been tapped to advise the party on an economic productivity plan, one that could inspire the Grits’ platform or government policy.

He also plans to speak with MPs on “ideas and Canadian opportunities for economic growth amongst fast global changes,” according to a source familiar with Carney’s plans.

Carney’s presence at Trudeau’s side was part of a plan by the Prime Minister’s Office to make next week’s caucus meetings as smooth as can be — a plan that has since been rocked by recent developments.

But while some Liberal MPs are nervous after the NDP’s sudden move to rip up the supply and confidence agreement, and more are concerned by their party losing its campaign director with election timing now uncertain, Trudeau’s chances of sticking around to fight for a fourth mandate got a little rosier amid the chaos.