Harper said he has been listening with ‘disbelief’ as Carney describes his role in the 2008 financial crisis
OTTAWA — Liberal leadership frontrunner Mark Carney is trying “to take credit for things he had little or nothing to do with,” wrote former prime minister Stephen Harper, in a letter to Conservative party members on Sunday.
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In particular, Harper said he has been listening with “disbelief” as Carney describes his role in Canada’s response to the 2008 financial crisis.
“Carney’s experience is NOT the day-to-day management of Canada’s economy during the global financial crisis,” wrote Harper.
“I have listened, with increasing disbelief, to Mark Carney’s attempts to take credit for things he had little or nothing to do with back then. He has been doing this at the expense of the late Jim Flaherty, among the greatest Finance Ministers in Canada’s history, who sadly is not here to defend his record. But let me be very clear: the hard calls during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis were made by Jim,” he wrote.
Carney has spoken repeatedly about his experience as Bank of Canada governor on the campaign and has described his rule during the financial crisis in lofty terms.
“As Governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis, Mark guided Canada through one of the most turbulent economic periods in modern history,” reads Carney’s LinkedIn bio, crediting him with “protecting jobs and helping ensure that Canada came out stronger.”
Liberal members have begun voting on a new leader to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the winner of the leadership race will be announced on March 9.
National Post
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