T he sprint to succeed Justin Trudeau as the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party has begun. Five candidates have entered the race ahead of the January 23rd deadline, but it will almost certainly be won by either the former central-bank governor,

Carney disclosed his intentions to a crowd in Edmonton, Alberta, the western Canadian city where he spent the bulk of his youth, promising an economic agenda focused on lifting the country from a period of stagnant growth.

If successful, the former Bank of England governor would become Canada's interim prime minister ahead of the next general election

The front runners for the Liberal leadership are former central banker Mark Carney and ex-Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland, whose abrupt resignation last month forced Trudeau's exit.

Liberal leadership hopeful Mark Carney has secured the endorsements of four more current and former cabinet ministers.