Prime Minister Mark Carney turned Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s attack on his economics education into a viral exchange after the latter said Carney was “very badly educated on economics,” a charge landing awkwardly against a prime minister with Harvard and Oxford economics credentials.
The moment came after Poilievre said in a podcast, “There’s one thing that’s worse than being uneducated and it’s being badly educated. And Mr. Carney is very badly educated on economics.” The clip drew attention online partly because of the line itself and partly because water appeared to dribble down Poilievre’s chin as he delivered it.
In a recent conference, when asked about the comment, Carney paused and replied, “Did he? Wow.”
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The exchange followed a separate question about whether Poilievre should resign after the recent election results. Carney declined to pile on, saying, “That’s an unfair question. I can’t look into the heart of Mr. Poilievre. I respect him as a parliamentarian, as I do the other leaders of the parties. I’ll continue to work with him and all parliamentarians.”
Carney then jokingly walked back the praise after being told of Poilievre’s economics insult.
Carney studied economics at Harvard, earned a master’s and doctorate in economics at Oxford, served as governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013, and later became governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020.
Poilievre, meanwhile, has built his leadership around economic attacks, especially affordability, taxes, deficits, housing and inflation. His own formal education is a University of Calgary degree in international relations, while his political résumé includes serving as an MP since 2004 and holding cabinet and finance critic roles under Conservative governments and opposition benches.
Carney’s Liberals just secured 174 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons after wins in three special elections, giving the government a majority and removing its need for opposition support to pass legislation.
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5 Responses
Canada is so lucky to have the right PM at the right time. Not only is he smart, well educated, articulate and has sound judgement he is also a world class leader. Carney is moving quickly in Canada in a positive economic direction cutting spending, opening provincial business, funding infrastructure, and opening major trade deals around the world. At the same time he is setting an example for other counties about what a true leader looks like. I am a Proud Canadian!
Mark Carney playing grandmaster-level chess at the big table as the world watches. Pierre Poilievre in bow-tie topping up his ice water and retreating to the kitchen.
Who is the podcast female? Need to listen to the whole diatribe.
The diplomat with a real economics education vs the attack dog with a vague degree and a ideological stance on economics. Same con rhetoric….decrease government size…already done. Cut taxes..already done. Fiscal responsibility. On it already. Diversify the economy….like no other leader has ever accomplished before in this country and in record time and before his party became disillusioned with him and started leaving in droves because they could see true leadership. These crossers may well lose their seats in the the next election but they want what is good for the country now and that is not PP and his constant nostalgia for a time that is long past.
The banks are doing well, the people not so much. That’s the gist of Poilievre’s statement, no? So Carney’s education serves banks well, but Canadians are lurching thru an affordability crisis with no relief in sight and more bad news coming down the pike.