Mark Carney, the first non-Brit to run the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694 and the former head of Canada’s central bank, said Thursday he is entering the race to be Canada’s next prime minister following the resignation of Justin Trudeau.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney announced on Thursday that he was running to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, saying he wanted to focus on the struggling economy.

Former head of UK central bank enters race to take over from Justin Trudeau as leader of Liberal Party and Canada

Canada’s governing Liberal Party will announce the country’s new prime minister March 9 after a leadership vote that follows the resignation of Justin Trudeau this week.

Mr Carney, who was also governor of the Bank of England, is running as an outsider with considerable financial experience. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The front runners for the Liberal leadership are former central banker Mark Carney and ex-Finance Minster Chrystia Freeland, whose abrupt resignation last month forced Trudeau's exit.

Canadian cabinet minister Karina Gould on Saturday said she would take part in the contest to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the ruling Liberal Party. Gould, 37, becomes the third serious candidate to announce their candidacy.

Former Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is running to be the next leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister of Canada

By David Ljunggren (Reuters) - Canada's ruling Liberal Party is looking for a new leader to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced on Jan. 6 he intended to step down. The Liberal Party will pick a new chief on March 9.