Dear editor:

May I correct factual errors written by Nicolas Petrick in The Lake Report (“Letter: Carney’s record spells trouble for Canadians, April 10) against our Liberal leader, Prime Minister Mark Carney, hoping to be elected?

1: Petrick claims that Carney is responsible for inconsistent interest rates when he was governor of the Bank of England (2013-2020) and subsequent 11 per cent inflation after COVID in the U.K. Firstly, interest rates were not inconsistent during Carney’s tenure relative to global standards and the 11 per cent peak occurred two years after Carney left and was due to former Conservative prime minister Liz Truss (and Trump supporter) reckless overspending which sent markets into a frenzy. Pierre Poilievre is an admirer of Truss’ failed economic policies.

2: Carney had no role in the Justin Trudeau Liberal government during the COVID-19 pandemic, as Carney was asked to be the federal economic advisor last September. By the way, the Trudeau Liberal government’s support of public health (vaccines, masks, social distancing, closures and CERB pay for out-of-work employees) helped us have less than half the deaths than the U.S. under Trump’s anti-vaccines and bad medicine.

3: “Trump prefers dealing with Carney.” After Carney’s call, Trump dropped his predatory bad-mouthing of Canada and the worst of tariffs (for now) and abided by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement signed by Trump in his first term (negotiated by Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau and Trump).

4: As governor of the Bank of Canada, Carney earned praise from Conservative former prime minister Stephen Harper and finance minister Jim Flaherty, as we suffered less than many countries in the global recession of 2008 caused by U.S. banks’ over-lending. “The selection of Mr. Carney as chair of financial stability board is a testament to his skills and the strength of Canada’s financial system,” said Harper. Flaherty praised Carney, saying he “has the technical knowledge and street smarts to deal with big complex negotiations.” When the Conservative U.K. government needed help after they voted (barely) to leave the European Union, Carney was the “voice of calm who steadied the ship,” according to ex-finance minister George Osborne.

5: The claim that only Poilievre has a commitment to serve Canadians is wrong. Carney left his lucrative and not-for-profit work and put assets in a blind trust to run for prime minister because he is deeply committed to creating a better future for all Canadians. His excellent reputation, honesty, experience and expertise can unite us to prevail during the trade wars and diversify.

Let’s all go out and vote.

Elizabeth Oliver-Malone
Old Town