Carney Fires Back at Trump's 'Canada Lives Because of US' Comments

For the second time this week Prime Minister Mark Carney took aim at Donald Trump — this time directly biting back at the U.S. president's "Canada lives because of the United States" comments. On Wednesday Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he complained that Carney should be grateful because "Canada lives because of the United States." At the end of a nearly 30-minute speech Thursday kicking off the the Liberal cabinet meeting in Quebec City, Carney addressed the president's comments. "Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership. In the economy, in security and in rich cultural exchange. But Canada doesn't live because of the United States," Carney said "Canada thrives because we are Canadian." The lines were added to his address and not part of his prepared remarks, said an official with his office. 'Canada thrives because we are Canadian' Carney's pre-cabinet speech had the hallmarks of an election campaign speech. After addressing an international audience at Davos the day before Trump, Carney's address from the site of the cabinet meeting took a more domestic turn. "There are long periods of history when these values can prosper unchallenged. Ours is not one of them," said Carney, speaking from prepared remarks. He did not take reporters' questions. Carney argued that "Canada must be a beacon — an example to a world at sea." "In a time of democratic decline, we can show how rights can be protected, and equal freedoms endure," he said. "In a time of rising walls and thickening borders, we can demonstrate how a country can be both open and secure, welcoming and strong, principled and powerful." His address kicks off two days of meetings with his front benches. The cabinet will be holed up for two days behind the stone walls of the Citadelle, a storied military base and the Governor General's secondary residence that looms over the Quebec capital. It was fortified in the 19th century in an effort to secure the city against a potential American attack, and in 1943 was the site of the Quebec Conference when Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt met secretly to plot a strategy for the Second World War. Carney turned to some of that history in his address, praising the cooperation that came out of the the decisive battle at the nearby Plains of Abraham when the British, French and First Nations collided. "The answer that emerged — slowly, imperfectly, not without struggle, but unmistakably— co-operation," he said. "That response was not inevitable. It was chosen." Echoing the Liberal platform promises, Carney laid out his priorities for the coming Parliamentary session including better economic co-operation with the provinces and territories, widening the net for international trade deals, reforming the criminal justice system, fostering artificial intelligence and making massive investments in defence. "Now we need to execute. Fairly. And Fast," said Carney, likely a nod critics who have argued he needs to back up grand, sweeping comment Carney also promised to protect services like child care, dental care and pharmacare, and stand up for the vulnerable "whether they are a newcomer, a person with a disability or a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community." "Our values must be fought for. That’s what we’re doing, and Canadians are up for it," he said. Carney fresh off Davos speech It's the first time Carney and his ministry have huddled as one since the House of Commons rose for the holiday break in December, and it comes on the heels of the prime minister's nine-day trip to China, Qatar and the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Prime ministers historically gather with their cabinets ahead of a new session to set priorities, although this year's tone is noticeably more stark. At Davos on Tuesday, Carney referred to "American hegemony" and said world powers are using economic integration as "weapons." In that closely watched speech, Carney said middle powers like Canada must work together or end up "on the menu" of great powers that are weaponizing economic integration. The official agenda of the meetings said the cabinet will focus on the economy, affordability and security, and ministers and secretaries of state are expected to discuss progress on their mandates.