Outgoing Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney says he owes much of his success to his Canadian roots, something he says was key to his selection as chief of Britain鈥檚 central bank.
In a candid interview with CTV鈥檚 Kevin Newman, Carney said he doesn鈥檛 expect to change during his five-year term as the new Bank of England governor.
鈥淚鈥檓 there because I鈥檓 Canadian, because I鈥檝e had the experiences that I鈥檝e had and to bring a different perspective,鈥� he said.
Carney, 47, said he鈥檚 looking forward to the new challenge that await him in England and has every intention of returning to Canada when his term is up.
鈥淭his is where my friends are, this is obviously where my family is, and it鈥檚 just a natural,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a big challenge that I鈥檝e been offered. Very much looking forward to it, it will be a great experience for our family as well. But in the end, I鈥檓 Canadian and I鈥檒l come back and bother you.鈥�
Carney added that upon his return, he expects he鈥檒l be able to 鈥渇ace the consequences鈥� for the choices he has made as Canada鈥檚 top banker 鈥� primarily his decision to maintain rock-bottom interest rates in order to keep Canadians borrowing and allow banks to continue lending money.
The Bank of Canada and Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty have repeatedly raised concerns about the record-high level of household debt 鈥� on average at a debt-to-income ratio of 151 per cent 鈥� and what will happen when eventually interest rates begin to increase.
Carney maintains that when global economic demand collapsed in 2008, the economy was only being supported by 鈥渆xtraordinary fiscal measures.鈥�
鈥淪o we had to build demand here in Canada,鈥� he said.
Carney said he now believes Canadians are heeding the message to lower debt.
鈥淲hat we鈥檝e done successfully is we鈥檝e pivoted from stimulating household demand, (the) housing market and household borrowing for consumption, kept employment up and we pivoted to focus on investment and exports,鈥� Carney said. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e seeing without question is a very constructive evolution of Canadians鈥� attitudes towards debt and towards the housing market. And it is moving towards a much more sustainable equilibrium.鈥�
