Mark Carney packs Château Royal with more than 2000 supporters in Laval
On Tuesday evening, former Bank of Canada governor and Liberal leader Mark Carney drew a standing-room-only crowd of approximately 2000 at the Château Royal. Sporting a Montreal Canadiens jersey, Carney rallied his base around the slogan “Canada Strong” while taking aim at Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
A Unified Canadian Economy
Carney opened by highlighting last month’s Canada–EU cooperation agreement as a blueprint for reducing exporters’ reliance on a handful of markets. “Free trade is in our DNA, but we need one Canadian economy, not thirteen,” he declared, calling for greater interprovincial harmonization.
Firing Shots at Poilievre… and U.S. Trade Pressures
Amid chants of “Poilievre” from the crowd, Carney claimed his team “achieved in two weeks what Mr. Poilievre couldn’t in a lifetime of sloganeering.” He branded Poilievre as a “cut-and-rush” politician offering slogans instead of solutions. He also warned of potential new U.S. trade barriers, stating, “We won’t be bullied by protectionism; Canada will stand firm—calmly, not chaotically.”
Hockey Roots and Health Care
Reflecting on his days as a university goaltender in Western Canada, Carney credited hockey with teaching “solidarity and perseverance.” “This is our land, our country—never the United States,” he said to sustained applause. He closed by reaffirming his commitment to a strong public health care system as the “cornerstone of our national identity.”
Local Voices and Laval Support
Left to right: Mark Carney and Stéphane Boyer
Mayor Stéphane Boyer shared a post alongside Carney on social media, noting how pleased he was to “discuss Laval’s priorities.” He added with a smile, “Next time, I’ll bring you a Canadiens jersey myself.”
Among the Laval delegations, MP Angelo Iacono (Alfred-Pellan) energized supporters with his own address, flanked by volunteers waving homemade banners that “were proudly crafted in Alfred-Pellan by a local business.”
On the Final Stretch
With under a week until the April 28 federal vote, Carney’s rally underscores the Liberals’ strong position in Laval.
With reporting from Alberto Georgian Mihut, Laval Weekly
