It’s 2020 and throwing out rules, conventions and precedents is all the rage. 

So it may seem a bit quaint to defend a mere precedent. Yet, here we are. As rumours abound that Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of Canada, is preparing to return to political life in Canada like the prodigal son, we stand behind the idea that anyone who serves in that role must not only be beyond politics, but must be seen as beyond politics. Not even a hint of partisanship — prospectively or retroactively — should be allowed near this role or any senior leadership position at the Bank of Canada.