Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday to discuss trade and security.
Carney announced the trip during a news conference Friday morning, his first time taking questions from media since the Liberals won Monday’s federal election.
“It’s important to get engaged immediately, which has always been my intention, which has always been [Trump’s] intention,” he told reporters in Ottawa. “I’m pleased to have the opportunity for quite a comprehensive set of meetings that will take place on Tuesday.”
Carney made negotiations with Trump a cornerstone of his campaign, arguing he would be best to shepherd Canada through a trade war with the U.S. and Trump’s annexationist threats. But the prime minister said Tuesday’s meeting doesn’t necessarily mean there will be an immediate resolution to the tariff issue.
Carney expects ‘difficult discussions’ with Trump
“Do not expect white smoke out of that meeting,” Carney said jokingly, referring to the upcoming papal conclave.
While he indicated that the meeting itself was a good sign that things are moving in a positive direction, Carney repeated what he had said during the campaign: that the traditional relationship with the U.S. is “over” and that his government is looking for new trading relationships with other partners.
Carney also emphasized that he’s intent on building the Canadian economy to be less reliant on the U.S.
“We have more than enough to do here at home…. We can have a bigger boost to our economy, to incomes, to jobs by focusing on building one Canadian economy, by building these nation-building projects, by focusing on getting productivity up, by reducing government waste, by driving investment in this country,” he said.
“We’re going to focus on that while we have these negotiations with the Americans, and if the negotiations with the Americans take longer, so be it. We’ve got more than enough to do here.”
Carney laid out a number of his government’s priorities going forward. He said his promised tax cut will be passed by Canada Day and will introduce measures he said would double the pace of housing construction.
The Liberals won 168 seats in the federal election, not quite the 172 that are required for a majority in Parliament. The Conservative Party won 144 seats.
The prime minister acknowledged that voters are concerned about the cost of living and crime, key campaign issues that the Conservatives pushed. Carney said he had already spoken with opposition leaders and is committed to working with other parties.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre didn’t win his seat, giving rise to speculation that one of his MPs would step aside and allow him to run in a byelection.
Alberta MP Damien Kurek announced Friday that he would be stepping aside to make room for Poilievre to run in his Battle River-Crowfoot riding.
Carney says he’ll trigger a byelection if Conservatives seek one for Poilievre
Prime ministers have control over the timing of byelections once a seat is vacated.
Carney was asked if he would delay a byelection call to keep Poilievre out of the House for an extended period of time.
“I’ve already indicated to Mr. Poilievre that if it’s the decision of him and the Conservative Party to trigger … a byelection. I will ensure that it happens as soon as possible,” Carney said.
“No games. Nothing.”
Carney was also asked if he would be seeking a governing agreement with the NDP, similar to the one former prime minister Justin Trudeau had in the previous Parliament.
“No,” he said quickly in response.
When asked why not, he responded with a “why?” He expanded to say that his government, although a minority, was given a mandate by voters and will be putting forward legislation to move ahead with its agenda.
The prime minister said his new cabinet will be sworn in May 12 and Parliament will return May 26.
Carney also said King Charles will travel to Ottawa to read the speech from the throne on May 27. The last time the speech was actually read by Canada’s head of state was when Queen Elizabeth delivered it in 1977.
