Carney will have to decide if he will call an election instead of bringing back Parliament on March 24
OTTAWA — A day into his new role, Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney has already managed to anger some Muslim voters and Liberal supporters by appointing former public safety minister Marco Mendicino as his chief of staff.
A source close to Carney confirmed on Monday that the Toronto MP, who was seen with Carney in the corridors of Parliament during the day, would indeed serve in the key role, at least for the transition period that will see him officially sworn in as prime minister this week.
News of the appointment caused Muslim groups to immediately react, given Mendicino’s strong pro-Israel stance since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas.
Some of them have even been swamping the phone lines of Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, who has been cool to Israel but supported Carney, according to sources who spoke to the National Post.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims said in a statement it is “greatly concerned” by the Liberal MP serving in that role given his position on the Israel-Hamas war, such as opposing decisions of the International Court of Justice and a ceasefire in Gaza.
He currently serves as the vice president of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group.
“We remain concerned that an individual who lacks appropriate judgment… does not have the requisite expertise to help guide Canada amid extremely delicate negotiations with the Trump administration,” read the statement issued by NCCM on Monday.
“We urge Leader Carney to clarify how this selection will help further Canada’s interests.”
Mendicino has also been criticized more widely during his time as public safety minister in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet for the way he handled the prison transfer of serial killer and rapist Paul Bernardo from a maximum-security facility. Trudeau dropped him from cabinet in a shuffle in July 2023.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also took to X to criticize Carney’s new chief of staff.
“Do these guys really deserve a fourth term?” he asked.
Several of Mendicino’s former colleagues in cabinet, however, came to his defence.
“I know Marco quite well,” said Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. “He’s a guy who knows the administration of the Canadian government very well. He’s coming in with solid experience.”
Gary Anandasangaree, who is minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, stressed that Mendicino’s role is to ensure the transition is made smoothly from Trudeau to Carney.
“He had a good relationship both in the current administration as well as the incoming administration, so I believe it’ll be a good bridge between the two. What’s important is that we have a seamless transition over the next several weeks,” said Anandasangaree.
Others, such as Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, said they were surprised by the appointment of one of their Liberal colleagues in the role of chief of staff.
“I had no idea that he was considering Marco, but I’ve known Marco a long time, I have great respect for Marco, and I look forward to working with him,” said Wilkinson.
Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos said he was also surprised because Mendicino had hinted that he was “very seriously” considering running to become mayor of Toronto.
“But this is a great honour to be a chief of staff to someone who’s about to be sworn in as prime minister, and I think it’s a decision that will serve caucus well,” he said.
Liberal MP Salma Zahid, one of the strongest voices within caucus for a ceasefire in Gaza, uttered a “no comment” when asked about Mendicino’s new role.
On Monday, the newly appointed Liberal leader was in private meetings and preparing his transition. He is expected to be sworn in as prime minister later this week and to name a leaner cabinet to face the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Carney told reporters he had a lengthy meeting with Trudeau to discuss Canada-U.S. relations, issues of natural security and the transition.
“That transition will be seamless, and it will be quick,” said Carney.
The incoming prime minister will soon have to decide if he calls an early election instead of reopening Parliament when prorogation ends on March 24.
The Liberal party already has a campaign platform ready that is being tweaked to reflect Carney’s vision and is gearing up for an election that could be called in the days leading up to March 24.
Philippe J. Fournier, creator of the poll aggregator website 338Canada, said in his 10 years analyzing polls he has never anything similar to the current polls showing the Liberals closing a 20-point gap with the Conservatives within two months.
Fournier, however, thinks the Conservatives still have a clear advantage in the upcoming election.
“The Liberals have been in power for close to a decade. The Conservatives have a huge fundraising advantage, and they have been leading in the polls for the better part of 18 months. So, all this together, this is the Conservatives’ election to lose,” he said.
National Post
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