{"id":179125,"date":"2026-08-22T23:24:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T23:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/179125\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T23:24:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T23:24:27","slug":"carneys-next-steps-after-saying-no-to-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/179125\/","title":{"rendered":"Carney’s next steps after saying no to USA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Carney,<\/a>Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed media on August 22, 2026 the day following cancellation of trade talks with US. [livestream]
\n \"CANADIAN<\/a> <\/p>\n

Saturday August 22, 2026 | OTTAWA, ON [Posted at 1:58 pm PT]<\/p>\n

by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends<\/p>\n

This is the morning after. <\/p>\n

Last night Canada pulled the plug on a potential trade deal<\/a> with the United states.<\/p>\n

Today Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed media from Ottawa.<\/p>\n

Carney made it clear that the US had pushed too far \u2014 that was already the case in many respects over the past year, but bringing in last-minute requests that would have tied Canada\u2019s hands in trade and threatened this country\u2019s sovereignty was the final straw that ended trade discussions last night.<\/p>\n

\"IST<\/a><\/p>\n

Under no illusions:<\/p>\n

Here are some key points made by Carney in his press conference today, expounding on his \u2018having no illusions\u2019:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been under no illusions. We recognized from the start that America has changed. Steady integration of our economies is over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe gap between partnership and competitor has remained too wide in recent days. We cannot accept what they\u2019ve offered and we will not give what they\u2019ve asked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re masters of our destiny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re stronger now than when the US started this trade war.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ist,<\/a>In this municipal election year, get signed up for the Island Social Trends Premium ENews.<\/p>\n

Tolerating the process:<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible there\u2019s a disconnect between what Carney says his government had \u201cno illusions\u201d about, and the actions (or pause-points) taken by Canada in the hopes of getting a good deal.<\/p>\n

\"mark<\/a>Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, March 27, 2026. [livestream]<\/p>\n

Today Carney readily listed off the many things that Canada has tolerated from the United States over the past 18 months. <\/p>\n

\"border<\/a>Canada\u2019s Public Safety Minister David McGuinty and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew mingled after a drug lab demo by border officials in Manitoba, Feb 4, 2025. [livestream]<\/p>\n

That list includes: responding to issues of fentanyl at the border, dropping the Digital Services Tax that would have brought US tech giants to heel, being asked to buy only US aircraft, backing down on immediately recouping on investment in a bridge between Canada and the US (Windsor\/Detroit) that Canada paid for, putting up with US suspension of talks due to a TV commercial that quoted former US President Ronald Reagan, and hearing the US complain and wanting to charge for the impacts of wildfire smoke that made its way across borders.<\/p>\n

\"Windsor<\/a>Windsor-Detroit Bridge (aka Gordie Howe Bridge) will be open by the end of July 2026. [web]<\/p>\n

Had Carney stood up more emphatically to any of those, would it have \u2018poked the bear\u2019 too much, who knows?<\/p>\n

When asked today if what sounded like reported last-minute impositions by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick (presumably on direction of the US president) on the potential deal was one of the deal breakers, Carney replied that the Canadian team was \u201cunified\u201d and \u201ceveryone was in the loop\u201d\u2026 \u201cbut you cannot say that about the US administration\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"book<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking forward:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re being our own best customer,\u201d said Carney today, looking back over how his government has worked over the past 18 months to diversify Canada\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re on track and it\u2019s working,\u201d he said, being fully aware of the timeline. Some of the biggest payoffs of this transition will take time, he pointed out.<\/p>\n

\"carney,<\/a>Canada\u2019s Prime Minister Mark Carney signs trade agreement with Japan\u2019s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae in Tokyo, March 6, 2026. [livestream]<\/p>\n

Carney described his government\u2019s trade diversification work and support for various sectors these past 18 months as \u201ca boost today and a bridge to that better tomorrow\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cCanada has all the resources we need to pivot and to prosper,\u201d the prime minister said today.<\/p>\n

\"banner,<\/a><\/p>\n

Plan A: <\/p>\n

We take this step confident that it is in the best interest of Canada. And that by rejecting a bad deal, that by standing up for Canada by focussing on what we can control we will build Canada strong for all.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuilding at home and diversifying trade abroad is not our Plan B. It has been our Plan A from the start,\u201d said Carney. <\/p>\n

\"banner,<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s working:<\/p>\n

\u201cCanada will continue to pursue this path to build Canada strong \u2014 because it\u2019s right and because it\u2019s working,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re moving rapidly to build major infrastructure,\u201d said Carney, noting that his government has so far referred 27 nation-building initiatives to the new Major Projects Office including new ports, mines and energy corridors in what he calls \u201cevery region of the country\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"carney,<\/a>Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announce pipeline project heading to Major Projects Office, July 2, 2026 in Calgary. [livestream]<\/p>\n

That now represents $500 billion in new private investment for projects that will \u201chelp Canada build bigger, move faster and trade more with the world\u201d, the prime minister said today.<\/p>\n

Several of those projects are in BC, particularly that support the\u2019 energy superpower\u2019 goal that Carney has for Canada. The LNG project which is already shipping to Asian markets was highlighted by BC Premier David Eby in that regard today (in a later press conference at noon PT).<\/p>\n

Carney no doubt continues to have his eye on the big prize for bolstering the Canadian economy, that being a national electricity grid<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"ist<\/a><\/p>\n

Collaboration with premiers:<\/p>\n

Carney said today that partnerships with the premier are crucial and \u201cfundamentally important\u201d. <\/p>\n

\"Carney,<\/a>Prime Minister Mark Carney at press conference with Canada\u2019s Premiers on January 29, 2026 in Ottawa (shown in this photo, from left): PEI Premier Bloyce Thompson; Ontario Premier Doug Ford; NS Premier Tim Houston; Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew; and BC Premier David Eby. [livestream]<\/p>\n

The reality is that Canada\u2019s overall economy is really an assembly of regional economies. That\u2019s been clear as to the range of concerns expressed by premiers over the past 18 months. <\/p>\n

\"Tim<\/a>Premier David Eby and BC Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions was joined by federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson (right) on May 14, 2026 in Vancouver to announce progress toward a final investment decision at LNG2. [livestream]<\/p>\n

Supporting businesses:<\/p>\n

Carney said today that the federal government will provide support to businesses \u2014 including small and medium-size businesses.<\/p>\n

Details will be issued \u201cearly next week\u201d, said Carney, saying that will come \u201calongside tariff actions\u201d\/<\/p>\n

Support of this nature was emphasized as coming \u201cfor as long as it takes\u201d including \u201cbeyond the life of this US administration\u201d.<\/p>\n

Support will be done through regional development agencies and the Business Development Bank of Canada. That will include \u201ca limited number of easy-to-use but effective programs\u201d. The process will be worked through and they will \u201cpivot as necessary\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"ist<\/a>News and insights at IslandSocialTrends.ca .<\/p>\n

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