We have entered an unpredictable time. Canada’s relationship with its closest ally is at best different and probably changed for a generation. New international structures, partnerships and alliances will emerge as the U.S. steps back from the role it has had since WW2 (hopefully that step back is temporary).
Why Mark Carney? Experience.
Canada needs to build its place in this new world. That requires building new relationships and rebuilding and enhancing existing ones. This will be hard and requires trust on both sides. Trust takes time to build.
Mark Carney is known and respected internationally. That comes with being the only person to have run two central banks (Canada and UK), leading through two crisis: 2018 financial crisis in Canada and Brexit in the UK, being active with the UN, working to build international banking rules and being on the board of major financial and tech companies. One can see how this has already played out internationally with the warm and friendly way he was received by France and the UK on day one. More personally, I was at a conference in the US two weeks ago and an Irish acquaintance mentioned that “(Carney) was a good guy through Brexit”.
That trust and respect gives Carney the ability to jump in and immediately be productive working with other international leaders and organizations. It took decades to build this respect and trust. It cannot, even by someone exceptional, be built over night.
Canada needs to be at the big table and have the credibility to be taken seriously during this unpredictable time. Carney will get us there, waiting for someone else to get off their international relations and crisis handling training wheels will not.
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