Mark Carney Makes First Campaign Appearance in Nepean

Liberals Face Fallout Over Ouster of Chandra Arya

On the heels of his formal entry into federal politics, Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney made his first public campaign appearance in Nepean—a riding now steeped in tension after the Liberal Party unceremoniously dropped its longtime incumbent, Chandra Arya. The low-key event marked the beginning of what will be a closely watched political journey, not only because Carney is seeking election for the first time but because the very seat he’s hoping to claim is one the Liberals just turned upside down.

Arya, who has represented the Ottawa-area riding since 2015, was removed without fanfare or a clear explanation. The decision has raised eyebrows both within and outside the party, as Arya had held the seat through three election cycles and maintained a solid base of local support. There was no press conference, no statement of gratitude—just a swift internal decision, with limited media engagement and no visible effort to soften the blow. Whether Arya will step aside, mount an independent campaign, or align with another party remains unresolved, but the silence has only added to the unease among local Liberals.

Carney, for his part, remained composed and diplomatic during his appearance, focusing on his vision for economic fairness, climate leadership, and restoring trust in political institutions. It was a tightly managed event, and while his remarks were delivered with characteristic polish, the mood around him was markedly more cautious. The campaign team dispersed quickly after the event, offering little room for spontaneous engagement or questions about Arya’s departure.

Nepean, now transformed into a battleground riding, will test Carney’s political instincts in real time. For all his international experience as a former central banker and climate finance advocate, the grassroots realities of federal politics in Canada are unavoidably personal—and local. Carney doesn’t yet have a seat in Parliament, and his path to one is already lined with the kind of intra-party turbulence no leader wants in their first week on the trail.

The choice of Nepean also reflects a calculated risk: it’s an urban-suburban seat with a diverse electorate and middle-class concerns that dovetail with Carney’s platform. But the way Arya was removed has left an impression—one that could complicate what should have been a smooth entry point for the new leader. While Carney avoided direct comment on the matter, it’s unlikely the riding’s residents will do the same.

What remains to be seen is whether the Liberal Party can close ranks and rally behind its new standard-bearer, or whether internal fractures—like the one still gaping in Nepean—will define Carney’s early days. For now, the campaign has begun, but not without the echoes of a sudden political eviction still reverberating through Ottawa’s western suburbs.