Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland, second right, speaks as Karina Gould, lfrom eft, Frank Baylis, and Mark Carney look on during the English-language

The stage was shared by four hopefuls: former governor of the banks of Canada and England Mark Carney, former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Liberal government House leader Karina Gould, and businessman and former MP Frank Baylis.

Mark Carney, the front-runner in the race to become Canada’s next prime minister, squared off for the first time with rival Chrystia Freeland in a French-language TV debate that focused on how to handle US President Donald Trump.

It would be a true surprise now if Carney somehow did not become the 14th leader in the history of the Liberal Party of Canada on March 9. But even if Carney is on the verge of winning the first political contest he ever entered,

We cannot change Donald Trump, but we can control our economic destiny,” one of the candidates, Mark Carney, said.

Canada's Liberal Party leadership candidates, former House leader Karina Gould shakes hands with former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, near former Liberal MP Frank Baylis, and former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland,

Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate Mark Carney speaks during the English-language Liberal Leadership debate in Montreal on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via A

Mark Carney promised to cap the size of the Canadian public service and undertake a program spending review if he becomes prime minister, but did not provide details of how much he would reduce government outlays overall.

The real debate, if there is to be one, is about what Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre would spend money on — and what they wouldn’t.

Following an event for Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney last week, some social media users claimed that at least some of the supporters pictured in still photos shared by the campaign were AI-generated.

The polls, fundraising hauls and endorsements aren't the only things suggesting former central bank governor Mark Carney is on track to win the Liberal leadership — Conservatives seem convinced as well.