Canada’s New PM Mark Carney Faces Criticism for Being 'Out of Touch' with the Common Citizen

OTTAWA – Mark Carney, Canada’s newly minted prime minister and a self-proclaimed "globalist," didn’t waste time stirring the pot. His first target? Former U.S. President Donald Trump. During his acceptance speech after securing leadership of the Liberal Party last Sunday, Carney declared that Canada’s tariffs against the U.S. would remain intact until "the Americans show us respect." He also added that Canadians are "always ready when someone else drops the gloves." It’s safe to say diplomacy took a backseat to hockey metaphors here.

Carney even tied Trump to his Conservative rival, Pierre Poilievre, remarking that Trump’s "divide and conquer" strategy would leave Canada vulnerable, a scenario he equated with Poilievre’s approach. "A person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him," Carney said. Subtlety clearly isn’t his thing.

The new PM’s resume reads like a checklist for the elite: former governor of two central banks (Canada and the UK), senior executive at Goldman Sachs, and United Nations Special Envoy. Yet, he’s never held elected office until now. Sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister on Friday, Carney is expected to call an election soon to cement his leadership and secure a seat in the House of Commons.

But critics, particularly from the Conservative Party, are already honing in on his perceived disconnect from everyday Canadians. Laura Kurkimaki, a former deputy national campaign manager for the Conservatives, pointed out that Carney has spent much of the last five years outside Canada while citizens faced rising living costs and food bank lines. She didn’t mince words, calling him "out of touch." During a recent debate, Carney failed to answer a question about the average cost of groceries—a gaffe that only fueled the criticism.

Adding fuel to the fire, Conservative leader Poilievre mocked Carney for playing hockey in $2,000 sneakers, posting on X (formerly Twitter), "Trying to be a normal guy playing hockey in $2000 shoes." The optics aren’t doing Carney any favors.

Carney himself seems aware of the elitist label. In a podcast appearance last month, he candidly admitted that his "weakness" is being labeled as "elitist or globalist." However, he countered that such traits might be exactly what Canada needs right now, describing himself as a "pragmatist" and "a leader in crisis." Bold self-awareness or overconfidence? You decide.

The parallels to Michael Ignatieff, another Liberal leader branded as "out of touch," are hard to ignore. Ignatieff’s 2011 election loss was historic, and the Conservatives are undoubtedly hoping history repeats itself.

Carney, who holds degrees from Harvard and Oxford, also has British and Irish citizenship—though he’s started the process of renouncing them. Despite a fortune earned during his tenure at England’s central bank, his current net worth remains a mystery, thanks to a blind trust set up to manage his assets before taking office.

As Carney steps onto the political battlefield, the question remains: Can an elite economist-turned-politician convince everyday Canadians he’s one of them? Or will he skate offside, much like his expensive hockey sneakers?