Many Canadians may have heard of Mark Carney prior to events of the past few
months, but they are now eager to know more about the man beyond the headlines of
his resume and reputed intellect. What about his character, temperament, values and
integrity?
I’ve known Mark for over 20 years. We first met when I was running an industrial
technology company developing applications in the hydrogen and fuel cell space. Mark
was working in investment banking and came to see me to learn more about the
technology.
I was struck not only by his intelligence but by his passion to understand the technology
– not simply to raise capital but to broaden his grasp of the underlying purpose of the
technology – to address the threat of climate change.
Public service
Mark and I lost touch after he left investment banking to enter the public service –
initially as a senior official in Canada’s Department of Finance and subsequently as
Governor of both the Bank of Canada and then the Bank of England.
As I followed his career during those years, I often marveled at the grueling challenges
he successfully confronted - including the 2008 financial crisis while Governor of the
Bank of Canada, and Brexit while Governor of the Bank of England. Few in this country
and indeed around the world have so capably met such vexing issues head on.
Mark and I later reconnected, during the years I served as Canada’s Minister of
Environment and Climate Change. We would spend time together in forums, domestic
and international, focused on climate issues and on how to build an economy that is
prosperous and fair but also low emission.
At that time Mark was back in the private sector seized with the importance and urgency
of these issues. In this regard, he was tasked by the United Nations to address climate
finance issues, and he worked with the global banking sector focused on sustainability.
Kindred spirits
In many respects, though working in different spheres, we were kindred spirits –
focused on finding pathways through which we could work to ensure both a strong
economy and a sustainable environment.
I’ve come to know Mark well over the years. He is decent, engaging, a thoughtful
listener and non-judgmental. He is a person of integrity and strong moral character.
Above all, Mark is a passionate and committed Canadian. A passage from his book,
Values: Building a Better World for All, speaks to how his economic views are shaped
by his Canadian values:
Fairness is a value that Canadians hold dear – part of the fabric of who we are.
Following decades of sustained growth in inequality, fairness for the middle class
is not only a moral imperative but a practical imperative: a prosperous middle
class is critical to sustaining the functioning and legitimacy of our economic and
democratic institutions.
Canada is fortunate to have, as its new Prime Minister a person as capable, as
experienced, as thoughtful and as principled as Mark Carney, as we face the
challenges ahead.