Bob Mackin
The former central banker poised to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister advised the B.C. NDP cabinet almost four years ago.
Mark Carney (left) and Justin Trudeau at the 2018 G20 summit in Argentina (PMO/Scotti)
Documents obtained under the freedom of information law show that then-Brookfield Asset Management vice-chair Mark Carney made a presentation to John Horgan’s cabinet on June 16, 2021.
What he actually said to Horgan, 18 ministers and four ministers of state is a secret due to cabinet confidentiality. The content of the presentation and minutes will not be revealed until the 15-year exemption expires in 2036.
What is known is that Carney made the presentation to the cabinet at a noon, hybrid meeting that was scheduled to last an hour. Two cabinet members were absent: Minister of Health Adrian Dix and Attorney General and future Premier David Eby.
“Cabinet reviewed a presentation entitled ‘Mark Carney Presentation British Columbia Cabinet Meeting,” provided by Mark Carney, dated June 16, 2021,” the minutes said.
“Cabinet were also provided the following: (censored).”
The meeting came about when an aide to George Heyman, the NDP Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, contacted an aide for Carney at Brookfield Asset Management’s Gatineau, Que. office.
“Minister Heyman would like to have a conversation with Mr. Carney about the relationship between financial investment trends and climate plans like CleanBC, and on behalf of Premier Horgan would like to explore if he would be willing to speak to our executive council at an upcoming cabinet meeting,” said the May 10, 2021 email from Kelly Sather.
It almost didn’t happen. Sylvie Peterson, Brookfield’s impact fund investigating administrative manager, told Heyman’s administrative coordinator Alyssa Hrenyk that Carney’s “diary is currently heavily committed.” He probably could not participate until the fall, Peterson said.
But they eventually settled to have Carney connect by webconference.
An arm of Brookfield, Brookfield Renewable U.S., has investments in the Kokish, Pingston, Powell, Lois, Hystad and East Twin hydroelectric facilities in B.C.
In January, Carney resigned as chair of Brookfield in order to run for Liberal leadership. Carney is the favourite to be named the new Liberal leader on March 9.
At the time of his presentation to the NDP cabinet, Carney was also the United Nations special envoy on climate action and finance.
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