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Prime Minister calls for national cohesion in Quebec address
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized national unity and resilience in his first domestic speech following a high-profile appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he warned of fractures in the postwar international order.
Defending sovereignty and partnerships
Addressing Canadians ahead of a federal cabinet retreat at Quebec City's historic La Citadelle, Carney pushed back against recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed in Davos that "Canada lives because of the United States."
"Canada and the U.S. have built a remarkable partnership over many decades," Carney said. "But Canada doesn't live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadians."
He vowed to uphold Canadian values in what he described as a "divided" global landscape, asserting that the current era demands active defense of those principles.
Global order under strain
Carney's speech echoed themes from his Davos address, where he declared the rules-based international order "is not coming back" and urged middle powers to resist economic coercion by larger nations. While he avoided naming Trump directly, he suggested the post-war "bargain" underpinning American hegemony was no longer viable.
His remarks drew praise from international leaders, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who called them "in tune with current times." However, concerns linger about potential fallout with the Trump administration, particularly as Canada prepares to renegotiate the USMCA trade agreement.
U.S. officials push back
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Carney of "political marketing" and dismissed his stance as pandering to domestic audiences. In an interview with Bloomberg, Lutnick argued Canada benefits from "the second best deal" under USMCA, which maintains tariff-free trade with the U.S.
"They are playing with a set of rules that they haven't really thought through. They've given a roadmap of saying: 'I guess we should change the whole deal.' You want to be like the rest of the world, you don't want to be a favoured neighbour."
Howard Lutnick, U.S. Commerce Secretary
Domestic pressure for action
At home, Carney faces criticism from opposition lawmakers, including Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who argued the prime minister must move beyond rhetoric. "Mark Carney cannot simply return to Parliament and expect that re-announcing projects or creating new bureaucracies will suffice," she wrote.
Carney acknowledged the need for swift action, outlining plans to dismantle domestic trade barriers, expedite major infrastructure projects, and pursue trade agreements with non-U.S. allies. He framed these steps as critical to addressing economic challenges and cost-of-living pressures.
Economic diplomacy and public support
The speech followed an eight-day international trip that included stops in Qatar and China, where Carney said he secured agreements to reduce tariffs and attract investment to Canada. Polling indicates roughly 47% of Canadians approve of his government's performance, with support hovering near the halfway mark.
