Does Canada’s next Prime Minister need to be an MP?

New leader of the Liberal Party and incoming Prime Minister Mark Carney has little direct political experience.

The 59-year-old, who has a strong background in global finance, has never held an elected office, let alone serve in a cabinet position.

While it’s rare to see a politician claim the top job in Canada without first being elected an MP, it is still possible.

A recent example of this is former Prime Minister John Turner’s tenure. Turner ran and won the Liberal leadership race in 1984, and would go on to become prime minister that same year. He had earlier served as an MP in Pierre Trudeau’s government, but left his seat in 1976 after a falling out with Trudeau.

Carney is expected to be sworn in as the next prime minister in the coming days.

Ahead of his win as the next Liberal Party leader, he hinted that he plans to call an election soon, before Parliament is scheduled to return on 24 March.

It’s unclear whether the incoming PM would run as an MP in one of Canada’s 343 federal electoral districts in that election or where exactly he would run, as he has yet to confirm those plans.

Source: BBC News < https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cg4k2l204zqt >