Carney apologizes after mispronouncing Polytechnique survivor on campaign trail

Liberal Leader Mark Carney holds a meet and greet at Steeple Green Books in Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S. on Tuesday March 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Liberal Leader Mark Carney made a couple of mistakes while on the campaign trail Tuesday.

While in Nova Scotia, Carney spoke about the diverse backgrounds of Liberal candidates, citing Montrealer Nathalie Provost, a survivor of the Polytechnique massacre and a gun control advocate.

However, he mispronounced her last name as “Pronovost” and mistakenly referred to Concordia instead of Polytechnique as the site of the 1989 tragedy.

Carney later apologized.

“I spoke to the candidate for Châteauguay–Les Jardins-de-Napierville this afternoon to apologize for what was clearly a slip earlier today,” he said in a statement.

“My respect and gratitude toward Nathalie Provost, for her commitment to our country in this critical time and for all these past years, are heartfelt. I look forward to working together on this campaign during this crucial election.”

Provost, an engineer, was shot four times during the attack.