Liberal leader Mark Carney could run for seat in Edmonton or Ottawa: political expert

Liberal Leader Mark Carney leaves a caucus meeting in Ottawa, Monday, March 10, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick) (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

With Mark Carney transitioning into his new role as leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister-designate, he has a big job to win over Canadians in the next federal election.

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Carney clinched victory Sunday night taking 85.9 per cent of the vote, beating out three other candidates for the party’s top job.

After his win, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith posted on social media, Carney needs to put “Canada first” and call for an election immediately.

CTV political analyst Scott Reid anticipates Canadians will be heading to the polls soon, with an election being called within a week.

“The most precious commodity is momentum and Mark Carney has it right now, combined with the fact the country faces a very genuine crisis, with almost daily threats of tariffs … he’s going to seek a mandate to negotiate and face down Trump,” Reid told CTV News Edmonton.

The day after his win, Carney met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promising a “seamless” and “quick” transition.

The former Bank of Canada governor currently doesn’t have a seat in parliament, but that could change.

“The speculation is he will run in either Edmonton or Ottawa. Those are really the two places he calls home, in the sense he grew up in Edmonton and he now lives in Ottawa,” Reid said.

Smith has been adamant about not supporting energy tariffs to the U.S.- telling CNN the province will start to look for other markets for their oil and gas if Americans don’t want their products.

Reid says U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs threats have created unity within the country with many voters looking for a leader who can bring the country together.

“A lot of voters and a lot of the public will have a lot less patience for outright partisan conduct, and so expecting Premier Smith to work and cooperate degrees to be possible with the new prime minister, that’s going to be strongly felt across Alberta and across the country,” Reid said.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nicole Lampa and CTVNews.ca