TORONTO -- Mark Carney's political career is only months old, and it's already been a roller-coaster ride. The former central banker appeared destined to become one of Canada's shortest-serving prime ministers until President Donald Trump picked a fight with the U.S.'s northern neighbor.

Mark Carney’s political rise seemed unlikely—until Donald Trump launched an economic attack on Canada. The former central banker, once trailing in the polls, is now leading a Liberal resurgence in a historic election.

Last month, in his first speech as Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney vowed to make the nation “a superpower in both conventional and clean energy.” The “conventional” reference could be seen as matter of course in a nation whose energy sector is still dominated by oil and gas.