Reaction in northern Ont. to Mark Carney’s victory

Mark Carney, who became the leader of Canada's Liberals over the weekend, also won big among Liberals in northern Ontario.

Mark Carney became the leader of Canada’s Liberals over the weekend in a landslide.

Carney also won big in northern Ontario, where members voted overwhelmingly in his favour. In Sudbury, he received 495 votes, easily outpacing Chrystia Freeland’s 38.

In Sudbury East, Manitoulin and Nickel Belt, Carney received 263 votes.

“I was very pleased to see Mark Carney win (Sunday) and win in such a resounding way,” said Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe.

“I think that allows him to come in in a position of strength at a time when our country really needs it.”

“It was up to the Liberals to decide who their next leader is going to be,” said Algoma-Manitoulin MP Carol Hughes of the NDP.

“Given where we are right now, the chaos that Trump has (created), I think that many are very relieved finally things are going to start moving forward. At least there’s a little bit more stability.”

Prof. David Tabachnick, a political science professor at Nipissing University, said he was surprised by the margin of Carney’s victory.

“What it means for northerners is a little hard to say,” Tabachnick said.

“It could mean, of course, that the Liberals will win the next election. I’ll leave it up to your viewers to decide whether that’s a good or bad thing. But, indeed, Carney has kind of breathed life back into the Liberal Party and we will likely have an election in the next few weeks or months.”

Expects a tight race

When the election does come, he said he expects a tight race.

“They (the Liberals) were some 25 points behind the Conservatives,” Tabachnick said.

“And now … some polls have the Liberals ahead; some have the Conservatives ahead. So quite competitive, which is quite an amazing turnaround -- a reversal of fortune. And I think it will be a very competitive election.”

He said the Conservatives were effective in attacking outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which helped them build their lead in the polls.

“That explained their lead in part and attacking the carbon tax,” Tabachnick said.

“Both of those things are now gone -- Justin Trudeau, of course, and Carney, who has announced that the carbon tax will be one of the first things he’s going to get rid of when he takes office.”

While the official date has yet to be announced, Carney will become the 24th prime minister of Canada within days.