Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc endorses Carney for Liberal leader

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OTTAWA — Dominic LeBlanc is endorsing Mark Carney to replace his childhood friend Justin Trudeau as prime minister and Liberal leader, saying the former Bank of Canada governor “has what it takes to steer a G7 economy through choppy waters.”

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The endorsement by LeBlanc, New Brunswick’s most senior cabinet minister and the country’s current finance minister, came in a short statement on Thursday.

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It arguably represents another significant boost to Carney’s already front-running campaign.

It was LeBlanc who was suddenly named in December Canada’s new finance minister in the dramatic aftermath of Chrystia Freeland’s bombshell resignation from federal cabinet.

Freeland abruptly quit the federal cabinet, stating in a public letter that Trudeau was planning to shuffle her out of the finance portfolio with the two “at odds” over spending.

Trudeau’s plan was originally to replace Freeland with Carney.

But that also fell through, LeBlanc first telling Brunswick News that was “not an option.” Subsequently, Trudeau gave LeBlanc assurances that he will remain the country’s finance minister.

Fast forward a few weeks and both Freeland and Carney became leadership hopefuls in the aftermath of Trudeau’s decision to resign.

Now, LeBlanc is backing Carney.

“Time and time again, Mark Carney has demonstrated he has what it takes to steer a G7 economy through choppy waters,” LeBlanc said in a short statement released on Thursday. “He is the leader our party – and our country – needs.”

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LeBlanc himself had significant support behind him for a leadership bid.

He ultimately chose to hold on to the top post of finance minister and his job as lead of Canada’s approach to the re-election of Donald Trump instead, although not before several of his Liberal colleagues tried to push him into the leadership race.

Donald Savoie, the Canada research chair in public administration and governance at the Université de Moncton, said in an interview that LeBlanc’s weight in caucus and among Liberals could instead thrust him into a kingmaker role.

LeBlanc’s endorsement adds to a sizeable number of MPs already behind Carney.

More than 80 MPs back his candidacy so far.

Freeland has the support of roughly 25 MPs.

That’s with just over two weeks left before the party selects Trudeau’s replacement.

The Liberals will elect Trudeau’s successor on March 9.

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