Trudeau Exits: Enter The Carney.

From One Disaster to Another: Trudeau's Exit and Carney's Entrance — Canada's Political Reshuffling Nobody Asked For

So Justin Trudeau is finally stepping down and Mark Carney is stepping up. Fantastic. Wonderful. Amazing. Just what Canada needed—another elite switching seats with another elite while the rest of us are left wondering if anything will actually change in this goddamn country. Let's dive into this political circus that's being sold to us as some kind of "fresh start" when it's really just more of the same bullshit wrapped in a slightly different package.

The Trudeau Legacy: Eight Years of Performative Politics and Failed Promises

Let's not mince words here—Justin Trudeau's time as Prime Minister has been a spectacular display of style over substance. When he first came onto the scene in 2015, he dazzled everyone with his good looks, famous last name, and promises of "sunny ways." Remember that? Remember how we all thought we were getting some progressive champion who would transform Canada into a beacon of forward-thinking policy? What a crock of shit that turned out to be.

Instead, what we got was a Prime Minister who excelled at crying on cue, wearing culturally appropriate attire for photo ops, and making grand declarations about climate emergencies while simultaneously purchasing pipelines. The cognitive dissonance is staggering. This is a man who marched in climate protests against himself. Let that sink in for a moment. He literally protested his own government's environmental policies. What kind of self-awareness deficit allows someone to do that with a straight face?

The housing crisis? Worse than ever under his watch. Affordability? Don't make me laugh. The average Canadian can barely afford to exist anymore. Indigenous reconciliation? A lot of tears and apologies, but when it came to actual clean drinking water on reserves or meaningful implementation of UNDRIP, suddenly the urgency evaporated.

And let's talk about ethics violations. The SNC-Lavalin affair, the WE Charity scandal, the vacation on the Aga Khan's private island—the list goes on. For someone who positioned himself as the ethical alternative to the Harper Conservatives, Trudeau sure had a knack for finding himself in ethically dubious situations.

But perhaps his most damning legacy is how he has contributed to the increasing polarization of Canadian politics. His smug dismissal of anyone who disagreed with his government's policies—particularly during the pandemic—created deeper divisions in a country that used to pride itself on being reasonable and moderate. By framing legitimate policy disagreements as moral failings, he pushed countless moderate Canadians to the political extremes.

Mark Carney: The Banking Messiah Canada Didn't Ask For

And now we have Mark Carney, the supposed savior who's going to right all of Trudeau's wrongs. Give me a break. For those who don't know—and apparently the Liberal Party is counting on most Canadians not knowing—Carney is the former Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. That's right, we're replacing a trust fund drama teacher with a fucking banker. Because if there's one thing everyday Canadians can relate to, it's a central banker who's spent his career in the highest echelons of global finance.

Let's be clear about what Carney represents: he's the embodiment of neoliberal economic policy. This is a man who has spent his entire career in the service of financial markets, not people. During his time at the Bank of England, he implemented quantitative easing policies that primarily benefited the wealthy while ordinary people struggled to recover from the 2008 financial crisis. He's a champion of the very economic system that has created the staggering inequality we're now experiencing.

But the Liberal Party is betting that Canadians will be so desperate for change that they'll overlook Carney's deep ties to the financial elite. They're hoping his technocratic aura and promises of "economic competence" will be enough to make us forget that he represents the same failed economic orthodoxy that has been squeezing the middle class for decades.

And let's not forget his climate credentials, which the Liberals will undoubtedly tout as evidence of his progressive values. Yes, Carney has spoken about the financial risks of climate change and the need for sustainable investment. But let's be real—this is climate concern from a banker's perspective, not an environmentalist's. It's about risk management and market opportunities, not a fundamental rethinking of our relationship with the planet.

The Non-Existent Ideological Divide Between Trudeau and Carney

Here's the real kicker in this whole political theatre: despite the Liberal Party's attempts to frame this as some kind of meaningful transition, Trudeau and Carney are cut from the same ideological cloth. They both represent a form of liberalism that talks a progressive game while ensuring that the fundamental power structures of society remain unchanged.

Trudeau's progressive rhetoric never translated into truly transformative policy. He implemented incremental changes that, while not insignificant, fell far short of the bold vision he initially promised. His government maintained Canada's commitment to a resource-based economy, failed to implement meaningful tax reform to address inequality, and ultimately proved unwilling to challenge the status quo in any meaningful way.

Carney will be no different. He may bring a different style—less selfies, more economic jargon—but the substance will remain largely the same. He'll continue to pursue policies that prioritize economic growth over all else, that view climate action through the lens of market mechanisms rather than necessary systemic change, and that fail to address the root causes of the problems facing ordinary Canadians.

The Liberal Party is hoping that by swapping Trudeau for Carney, they can refresh their brand without having to actually reconsider their approach to governance. It's a cosmetic change designed to appease an electorate that has grown tired of Trudeau's particular brand of performative politics, without addressing the substantive critiques of the Liberal government's policies.

The Elite Political Merry-Go-Round

What the Trudeau-to-Carney transition really highlights is the incestuous nature of political power in Canada. We're expected to believe that the best person to lead the country just happens to be another member of the global elite who moves in the same circles as the current PM. The message is clear: political power in Canada is not something that ordinary citizens can aspire to; it's a carousel for the already privileged to hop on and off at their convenience.

Carney's ascension to the Liberal leadership (and potentially the Prime Minister's office) without having to go through the messy process of being elected as an MP first is a perfect encapsulation of this dynamic. He's being parachuted into one of the highest offices in the land based on his connections and status, not his demonstrated commitment to public service or his understanding of the challenges facing everyday Canadians.

And let's be honest, this kind of elite shuffling is precisely why so many Canadians have become disillusioned with politics. When the faces change but the policies remain the same, when every "new" leader seems to come from the same narrow slice of society, it's hard not to conclude that the whole system is rigged in favor of those who already hold power and wealth.

The Liberal Meter: Scoring Trudeau and Carney on the Progressive Scale

Let's cut through the bullshit and actually quantify how "liberal" these two really are. Because despite the Liberal Party branding, neither of these men represents the kind of progressive politics that the label once stood for.

If we're being honest and breaking down their positions by the numbers:

Social Progressivism:

• Trudeau: 78% - He talks a big game on social issues, loves to march in Pride parades, and isn't afraid to call himself a feminist. But when it comes to backing up words with meaningful action, he often falls short. His government has made some progress on LGBTQ+ rights and women's issues, but they've been incremental changes rather than the bold reforms he promised.

• Carney: 60% - As a banker rather than a politician, Carney hasn't had to stake out clear positions on many social issues. What we do know suggests he's moderately progressive on paper but fundamentally conservative in practice. He'll make the right noises about diversity and inclusion, but don't expect him to push any boundaries.

Economic Progressivism:

• Trudeau: 45% - Despite campaign rhetoric about helping the middle class, Trudeau's economic policies have largely benefited the already wealthy. His modest tax increases on the top bracket and means-tested benefits for families amounted to tinkering around the edges while the fundamentals of Canadian capitalism remained unchallenged.

• Carney: 30% - Come on, he's a fucking banker. His entire career has been dedicated to maintaining the stability of a financial system that prioritizes capital over people. His version of economic progressivism is ensuring that markets function efficiently, not ensuring that wealth is fairly distributed.

Climate Action:

• Trudeau: 55% - He implemented a carbon tax, which took political courage. But then he bought a pipeline. The cognitive dissonance is staggering. His climate targets are ambitious on paper but Canada's emissions have barely budged during his tenure.

• Carney: 65% - Surprisingly, this might be one area where Carney outflanks Trudeau. Not because he's some environmental warrior, but because he genuinely understands the financial risks of climate change. He's been pushing the financial sector to take climate seriously, though always within a market-oriented framework that won't fundamentally challenge the fossil fuel industry.

Democratic Reform:

• Trudeau: 15% - Remember when electoral reform was going to be a cornerstone of Trudeau's legacy? That promise was abandoned the moment the Liberals realized that first-past-the-post was working just fine for them. His commitment to democratic renewal was paper-thin.

• Carney: 10% - If anything, Carney represents a step backward for democratic principles. He's the embodiment of technocratic governance—the idea that complex problems should be solved by experts rather than through messy democratic processes. His entire career has been spent in institutions (central banks) that are deliberately insulated from democratic accountability.

Indigenous Rights:

• Trudeau: 40% - Again, lots of tears and apologies, some meaningful steps forward, but a fundamental unwillingness to challenge the colonial structures that continue to oppress Indigenous peoples.

• Carney: 25% - Carney has shown little interest in or understanding of Indigenous issues throughout his career. His technocratic approach is likely to further sideline Indigenous perspectives in favor of "economic development" that primarily benefits non-Indigenous interests.

Overall Liberal Quotient:

• Trudeau: 47% - A failing grade for someone who positioned himself as the standard-bearer for progressive politics in Canada.

• Carney: 38% - Even worse, but at least he's not pretending to be something he's not. Carney is a technocrat with slightly progressive leanings on certain issues, not a liberal champion.

The real tragedy here is that the Liberal Party, which once stood for a genuine alternative to conservative politics in Canada, has become so ideologically hollow that it can swap a self-proclaimed progressive like Trudeau for a central banker like Carney without anyone batting an eye. It speaks to how far the party has drifted from any coherent progressive vision and how comfortable it has become as the political vehicle for Canada's professional-managerial class.

The Policies That Won't Change

Despite all the fanfare about new leadership and fresh approaches, there are key areas where we can expect absolute continuity between Trudeau and Carney:

Housing Policy: Neither Trudeau nor Carney has shown any willingness to challenge the fundamental issues driving Canada's housing crisis: the treatment of housing as an investment vehicle rather than a basic need, the influence of the real estate industry on policy, and the failure to implement meaningful taxation on property speculation. Carney might talk about "supply-side solutions" and "market incentives," but he won't implement the kinds of policies—like a comprehensive ban on corporate ownership of single-family homes or a steep speculation tax—that might actually make housing affordable again.

Healthcare: The Liberal approach to healthcare has been to provide funding without demanding structural reforms. This has resulted in billions being poured into a system that continues to fail Canadians. Carney, with his banker's mindset, might be even more inclined to view healthcare through an economic lens, potentially opening the door to more private delivery of services—all while maintaining the fiction of defending public healthcare.

Indigenous Relations: Trudeau's approach to Indigenous relations has been heavy on symbolism and light on substantive change. There's no reason to believe Carney, with his technocratic background, will suddenly prioritize the fundamental restructuring of Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples. He'll continue the Liberal tradition of making promises while failing to address the systemic issues of colonialism that continue to harm Indigenous communities.

Foreign Policy: Canada's foreign policy under Trudeau has been characterized by an attempt to please everyone while standing firm on nothing. From his embarrassing trip to India to his handling of relations with China, Trudeau has projected weakness on the global stage. Carney, despite his international experience, is unlikely to chart a more independent course for Canada, instead continuing our tradition of following the lead of our larger allies while pretending to be a moral leader in global affairs.

The Opposition's Failure to Offer a Meaningful Alternative

If there's one thing more depressing than the Trudeau-to-Carney shuffle, it's the utter failure of the opposition parties to offer a compelling alternative. The Conservatives under Pierre Poilievre have embraced a brand of right-wing populism that's heavy on grievance and light on actual solutions to the complex problems facing Canada. Their critique of the Liberal government, while sometimes valid, is undermined by their own lack of substantive policy proposals beyond tax cuts and deregulation.

The NDP, which should be offering a robust left-wing alternative, has instead been playing the role of Liberal enabler, propping up Trudeau's government in exchange for policy crumbs. Their failure to distinguish themselves as a genuine alternative to liberal centrism has left many progressive Canadians feeling politically homeless.

And the Green Party, which could be leading the charge on the urgent need for climate action, has been too busy with internal squabbles to present a unified vision for the country.

This political landscape—where the governing party can simply swap leaders without reconsidering its approach, and the opposition fails to offer meaningful alternatives—is a recipe for continued national stagnation. It leaves Canadians with the feeling that regardless of who they vote for, the fundamental direction of the country will remain unchanged.

What Canada Actually Needs

What Canada needs is not a new face at the top of the same old power structure, but a fundamental rethinking of how our political and economic systems work. We need leaders who are willing to challenge the status quo, not just manage it more competently.

We need housing policies that recognize shelter as a right, not an investment opportunity. We need a healthcare system that is actually universal, including dental care, pharmacare, and mental health services. We need an approach to climate change that acknowledges the scale of the crisis and is willing to challenge the power of the fossil fuel industry. We need meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples that goes beyond apologies to include land back, respect for sovereignty, and genuine partnership.

And most importantly, we need a political system that is responsive to the needs and desires of ordinary Canadians, not just the elite circles in which both Trudeau and Carney move.

The Bottom Line: Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

The transition from Trudeau to Carney is being sold to Canadians as a significant change, a chance to reset and move forward with new leadership. But when you look beyond the different styles and backgrounds of these two men, what you find is a fundamental continuity in their approach to governance and their place within Canada's power structure.

Carney may not have Trudeau's penchant for costumes and dramatic apologies, but he represents the same basic worldview: that Canada's problems can be managed within the existing system, without challenging the fundamental power dynamics that have created those problems in the first place.

For Canadians struggling with unaffordable housing, precarious employment, inadequate healthcare, and anxiety about the future, the change from Trudeau to Carney offers little hope of meaningful improvement. It's a reshuffling of the deck chairs on the Titanic, a cosmetic change that allows the Liberal Party to present a fresh face to voters without having to reckon with its failures in government.

So as we watch this political transition unfold, let's not be fooled by the rhetoric of change and renewal. Let's recognize it for what it is: another chapter in the ongoing story of how Canada's political elite maintains its grip on power while offering just enough change to keep the masses from revolting.

Because at the end of the day, whether it's Trudeau's performative progressivism or Carney's technocratic competence, the result for ordinary Canadians is likely to be more of the same—a political system that serves the interests of the few while failing to address the urgent needs of the many.

And that, more than anything, is what should make us all fucking angry.

Citations

1. MukerJhee P. March 2025 “Mark Carney wins race to replace Canada's Trudeau” Reuters

2. Humayun H. March 2025 “Canada’s Liberal Party chooses Mark Carney to succeed Justin Trudeau” CNN