Mark Carney serves poutine in Quebec: 'I'm a bit like Trump. Trump at McDonald's'

Mark Carney and the Liberals have spent a lot of campaign time telling voters they’re best equipped to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. But on Tuesday, the Liberal leader off-handedly compared himself to the contentious American head of state. The Liberal campaign bus rolled into Bloc Québécois-held Granby, Que., for a brief photo op with local candidate Felix Dionne at Cantine Chez Ben, a third-generation family-owned restaurant which bills itself as offering the best poutine. As seen in a video posted by CPAC, after posing for some photos out front, the former Bank of Canada governor gestured to an election sign featuring his image. “What a handsome person,” he said. “Let’s do a little comparison.” “Before the campaign. Now.” he remarked, motioning first to the image, then to himself.

Poutine and great conversations in Granby with Quebecers who are ready to build — and vote — #CanadaStrong. pic.twitter.com/GNvtL0aQI6— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) April 23, 2025

  Carney was quickly shuffled inside with Dionne and through a small throng of supporters, stopping to shake hands and sign autographs and then meeting with some customers enjoying a meal. At the counter, the two owners invited him to try his hand behind the counter, but told him he needed a hat first. While a staffer was sent to fetch some headwear, Carney turned to the cameras.   “It’s just like Trump at McDonald’s,” Carney said. “Not really.” In the final weeks of the 2024 U.S. election, Republican nominee Donald Trump showed up at a McDonald’s franchise outside Philadelphia, where he wore an apron, made fries and worked the drive-thru window. He did so, he said, because he’d always wanted to and to prove that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris never worked there, despite her claims.

“There’s no one with a hat?” Carney then asked, still waiting. When a Chez Ben hat is handed to him, he adjusts it, noting, “I have a big head.” Behind the counter, as Carney is prepping an order of poutine, a reporter at the canteen window outside asks him what the cheese sounds like. “Squish, squish,” he replied. “It’s tiring,” he said, while doing a mock brow wipe after serving up one dish. After a quick chat with one of the owners while Dionne makes a plate, Carney starts making another. “I’m a bit like Trump. Trump at McDonald’s,” he said again, speaking to someone through the canteen window. After chopping a few potatoes and having a private conversation with Dionne and the owners, Carney was out the door with a takeout plate in hand. “I’m keeping this,” he said of the hat. A few more photos and autographs, and the Liberal leader was off to his next stop.

• Trump mocks Harris by working at a McDonald's drive-thru
• The Bloc leader says Mark Carney will win. He doesn't seem upset about it

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