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.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney launched his campaign to become Liberal leader and Canada's next prime minister on Thursday. Carney, who has long been tied to Trudeau, criticized the current government's handling of the economy and promised to do better.

Former central banker pledges to focus on the economy, argues for less federal spending in move to differentiate himself from Justin Trudeau