Mark Carney’s ascension to prime ministership last week is unprecedented in Canadian history as he has never previously held an elected position.
There have been a few other cases of “firsts” for unconventional paths to becoming head of government in Canadian history as well. Here’s a look at them.
Mark Carney
News of Carney’s interest in the Liberal leadership had been circulating for years, but it wasn’t until January 2024 that he officially said he’d run for the top Liberal spot.
What makes Carney’s leadership bid so unusual is that he had never held public office before being sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister on March 14. Most prime ministers have been elected by the public before assuming a leadership role….