OTTAWA — Conservatives are hoping to grill former central banker Mark Carney during a House of Commons committee meeting on the carbon tax and affordability, arguing that he may be a future contender for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Even though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly said he is staying on as leader of his party, the ongoing speculation about Carney’s political prospects has intensified since he delivered a speech Monday evening during which he criticized the federal budget.