Less than a month after Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada’s prime minister, the Liberal Party is already weighing internal reforms that could make it easier to remove him as leader.
On Sunday, Liberal Members of Parliament are set to meet—just one day before the new parliamentary session opens—to vote on whether to adopt provisions from Canada’s Reform Act. If approved, these rules would empower caucus members to trigger a leadership review and, if necessary, oust Carney at any time.
Party insiders emphasize that the move is not a direct challenge to Carney’s leadership. “This isn’t about Mark personally,” said one Liberal MP. “We support him and his mandate, but we believe in having democratic mechanisms in place for accountability.”
Carney, a former central banker with no prior elected experience, became prime minister in March after winning the Liberal leadership and leading the party to victory in the April 2025 federal election. His campaign focused on economic renewal and standing up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies. Carney’s swift rise—from political outsider to prime minister—was seen as a bold move by the Liberals, who had trailed in the polls until shortly before the election.
The adoption of Reform Act provisions would not immediately threaten Carney’s position, but it would formalize a process for caucus-driven leadership reviews—an option some MPs say is essential for party democracy, especially with a minority government and turbulent political climate.
For now, Carney retains the confidence of his caucus, but the discussion signals that Liberals are eager to ensure checks and balances are in place as they enter a challenging new session of Parliament.
