Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called ties with the U.S. a “weakness” (Image: Unknown)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a video message Sunday, stating that Canada’s historically robust economic relationship with the United States has transformed from an asset into a liability requiring urgent attention.
During the 10-minute statement, Carney outlined his government’s initiatives to bolster the Canadian economy through attracting fresh investment and establishing trade agreements with other nations.
“The world is more dangerous and divided,” Carney said. “The U.S. has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.
“Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become weaknesses. Weaknesses that we must correct.”
Carney noted that tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump have impacted employees across the automotive and steel sectors. He observed that companies are postponing investment decisions, “restrained by the pall of uncertainty that’s hanging over all of us.”
Numerous Canadians have expressed frustration over Trump’s remarks implying Canada should become the 51st state. Carney pledged to provide Canadians with consistent briefings regarding his administration’s strategy to reduce dependence on the U.S.
“Security can’t be achieved by ignoring the obvious or downplaying the very real threats that we Canadians face,” he said. “I promise you I will never sugarcoat our challenges.” This isn’t the first occasion that Carney, who previously led central banks in both Canada and England, has addressed changing global power dynamics.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, he garnered significant acclaim for criticizing economic pressure tactics employed by major powers against smaller nations.
Trump responded sharply to those comments. “Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump declared following the speech. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
The White House had not issued an immediate response to Sunday’s address. Carney’s statements followed his recent majority government victory in special elections, as the opposition Conservatives pressure him to secure a U.S. trade agreement, which featured prominently in his campaign pledges last year.
The existing North American Free Trade Agreement among Canada, the U.S., and Mexico is set for review in July.
During his speech, Carney outlined plans to draw fresh investment into Canada, expand clean energy infrastructure by twofold, and eliminate internal trade obstacles. He also highlighted Canada’s bolstered defense budget, tax reductions, and initiatives to improve housing affordability.
“We have to take care of ourselves because we can’t rely on one foreign partner,” he stated. “We can’t control the disruption coming from our neighbors. We can’t control our future on the hope it will suddenly stop.
“We can control what happens here. We can build a stronger country that can withstand disruptions from aboard.” Carney emphasized that merely expecting the “United States will return to normal” is not a realistic approach. “Hope isn’t a plan and nostalgia is not a strategy,” he said.
Carney noted Canada has “been a great neighbor” standing with the U.S. in conflicts including Afghanistan, plus two World Wars. “The U.S. has changed and we must respond,” he said. “It’s about taking back control of our security, our borders and our future.”