Hub Podcasts Mark Carney is the prime minister—he should stop acting like a president
May 23, 2025
Joanna Baron, Executive Director of the Canadian Constitution Foundation, challenges the presidential-style leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling for a return to parliamentary consultation and democratic accountability. She explores the dangers of charismatic leadership and its impact on governance. Baron advocates for the Reform Act, highlighting its potential to empower MPs in holding leaders accountable. The conversation underscores the need for political adaptability within the Liberal Party to enhance democratic integrity in Canada.
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Carney's Presidential Governing Style
- Mark Carney's governing style resembles a U.S. president more than a Westminster prime minister.
- His top-down, CEO-like management contrasts with Canada's parliamentary traditions and risks sidelining democratic processes.
Use of Special Warrants Raises Concern
- Carney has used special warrants to spend nearly $75 billion without prior parliamentary approval.
- This practice, though legal, threatens parliamentary scrutiny and the constitutional norm of budget approvals.
Governance as Corporate Management
- Carney governs more like a managerial CEO preferring policy decisions in closed settings than parliamentary debate.
- This drift to presidentialism risks reducing cabinet to a stage-managed unity show, neglecting democratic accountability.
