N.B. Liberal MP rethinking decision to not re-offer with Carney in leadership race

New Brunswick Liberal MP Wayne Long says he’s rethinking his decision to not re-offer in this year’s federal election.

A New Brunswick Liberal MP says he’s rethinking his decision to not re-offer in this year’s federal election following a phone call conversation with party leadership candidate Mark Carney.

Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long, who has began publicly questioning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership more than a year ago, signalled his intentions to not run again last March.

Long says a recent chat with Carney, who announced his leadership bid on Jan. 16, has him rethinking that decision.

“I don’t want to be coy about it, but I had a really good conversation with Mark Carney,” says Long. “I just really didn’t feel over the last several years that my voice had been heard. And with Mark I wasn’t talking to somebody who was giving me party lines, or someone who wasn’t connected. So if Mark does win the nomination and becomes the leader of the Liberal party, I would certainly consider running again, yes.”

Later in the interview, Long – who was first elected MP in 2015 – said “Mark Carney is the man and if he’s in, I’m in.”

Long says he’ll make a final decision soon after the Liberal leadership vote concludes on March 9.

Other announced Liberal leadership candidates include: Former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Liberal House leader Karina Gould, Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste, Ontario MP Chandra Arya, and businessman Frank Baylis.

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