Mark Carney says he’s begun the process of renouncing Irish, U.K. citizenship

Mark Carney, a contender for the leadership of the Liberal Party, announced his decision to renounce his citizenship in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. This move would leave him solely with Canadian citizenship if the process is successfully completed. Carney expressed his belief that as a potential prime minister, he should only hold one citizenship, emphasizing the importance of loyalty to Canada.

During an event in Oakville, Ontario, Carney explained to reporters that he has already initiated the process of renouncing his citizenships in the UK and Ireland. Despite being born in Canada, Carney has held Irish citizenship for many years and became a British citizen in 2018 while serving as the governor of the Bank of England. He highlighted that several members of the House of Commons hold multiple passports, but he believes that as prime minister, he should only have one citizenship.

This decision by Carney brings to light the issue of multiple citizenships among political leaders. In the past, former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer faced scrutiny over his dual Canadian and American citizenship. Despite pledging to renounce his U.S. citizenship during the 2019 federal election campaign, Scheer later reversed course after the Conservatives lost. A CBC News investigation revealed that a significant number of parliamentarians from the 2015-2019 Parliament were born outside Canada, with many holding citizenship from other countries.

In a surprising turn of events, Transport Minister Anita Anand announced her decision to seek re-election after initially stating that she would not run. Anand credited Carney’s leadership experience and his past achievements in guiding countries through economic crises as factors influencing her choice to run again. She emphasized the critical economic challenges facing Canada, particularly in light of impending U.S. tariffs set to take effect.

As the Liberal Party prepares to select its next leader and potentially Canada’s next prime minister, the remaining contenders include Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould, and Frank Baylis. The party is set to choose its new leader on March 9, with Parliament scheduled to resume on March 24. The leadership race is heating up, with each candidate vying for the opportunity to lead the country during these challenging times.