Carney has renounced his British and Irish citizenships, pays his taxes in Canada: campaign

Liberal Leader Mark Carney has made a significant decision by renouncing his British and Irish citizenships, according to a spokesperson for his campaign who informed CBC News on Monday.

Carney, a Canadian by birth, obtained Irish citizenship many years ago through his family lineage and acquired his U.K. passport in 2018 while serving as the governor of the Bank of England. His wife is also of British descent.

The spokesperson for Carney’s campaign stated, “His other citizenships were renounced before Mr. Carney was sworn in as prime minister.”

The issue of dual citizenship has been a contentious topic in Canadian politics in the past. For instance, in the 2019 federal election, former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer faced scrutiny for not publicly disclosing his U.S. citizenship and retaining it even after losing the election.

Similarly, former Liberal leader Stéphane Dion held French citizenship, leading to accusations of divided loyalty from the Conservative party.

In response to recent attacks from the Conservatives questioning Carney’s tax obligations in Canada, a spokesperson for the Liberal campaign clarified that Carney “pays income taxes in Canada and has always complied with all tax regulations as a resident of Canada.”

Amidst the campaign trail, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has portrayed Carney as a “globalist elite” due to his substantial financial holdings, which have been placed in a blind trust to avoid conflicts of interest.

Carney’s financial assets are largely undisclosed to the public, with some of his investments in Canadian firm Brookfield being revealed through investor documents. Carney has pledged to adhere to parliamentary disclosure rules if elected.

Addressing the criticism surrounding Brookfield’s use of tax havens for certain investment funds, Carney defended the practice as a means to save money for investors and pensioners.

Despite attempts to paint Carney as disconnected from Canada due to his multiple citizenships, his professional background differs from that of former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, who spent years outside the country before returning to run for office.

Carney has spent the majority of his career in Canada, serving in senior finance roles in the federal government before being appointed as the governor of the Bank of Canada.

After his tenure as the governor of the Bank of England, Carney returned to Ottawa in 2020, emphasizing his commitment to Canada. “Canada has given me everything: my family, my education, my values, and in return, I’m ready to give everything to Canada,” Carney remarked at a recent rally.