Saturday April 11, 2026 | MONTREAL, QC [10:51 pm PT]
Political news analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The three-day Liberal Party of Canada Convention in Montreal April 9 to 11 was the usual event of rallying the faithful troops.
But this year in particular it was about unifying a big tent that Prime Minister Mark Carney has set upon to achieve as well as reinforcing his macroeconomic vision for the country.
Carney outlined big goals for Canada that will stretch over the long term. These weren’t new policy announcements but a weaving together of ‘Canada strong’ announcements and initiatives taken over the past year of fast-paced change for the Canadian psyche and economy.
The significant change in stance of the current United States administration has been a shock to Canadians. But the shock phase is already over and the hard work of economic adaptation has already begun.
Canada is reshaping itself and rebuilding the economy based on values that aren’t unique (e.g. kindness, resilience, fair opportunity for all) but that Canada seems to uniquely wish to apply in the exercise of our lives and society, said Carney.
Intro by Diana Carney:
In her introduction of Mark Carney as her husband, party leader and prime minister, Diana Fox Carney reminded a proud room of Liberals that Carney’s vision (introduced internationally in his January 2026 speech in Davos) has come to be recognized the world over.
Diana Carney says that in her travels with the prime minister she is hearing people “thank Canada for our country’s leadership”. She defined that as Canada being “a beacon of hope a pathway forward in a confounding world”.
Diana Carney herself was introduced to the standing-room only Liberal crowd by Tatiana Auguste — the Liberal candidate for the riding of Terrebonne where a by-election on Monday may be a close race against the Bloc Québécois candidate.
In today’s speech to Liberal faithful, Carney exuded excitement about being on the edge of something big. There are two other by-elections on April 13, where (in Metro Toronto ridings) the Liberals are easily expected to win. Only two more Liberal seats are needed to put the Carney Liberals into a majority status in the House of Commons — this would make it much easier to control committees and push through legislation. | See: By-Elections
Canada is a nation “that is helping to define and shape a new world order”, said Diana Carney today. She offered a description of Canada as seen through international eyes as one of “unity, strength and pragmatism”.
With well-crafted panache, Diana Carney introduced her husband as “the very best of Canada” noting in particular “the depth with which he cares for his country”.
She outlined Carney’s tenacity with describing his almost infinite capacity for work” and “a conviction about what is right and what is wrong”.
Nico the Carney cat got mentioned too. The intensely loyal and opinionated cat has his own following on X.
Diana Carney wrapped up with one of the themes of the convention about ‘big tent’ and ‘values’, and defining differences from the Conservatives, saying that Mark Carney as prime minister “works for the many not for the fortunate few”.
What we will do together:
After the usual handshakes through the crowd, Prime Minister as Liberal leader bounced up on to the convention stage in front of a few thousand people.
Carney opened his remarks with saying that Liberals are “remarkable because of what we will do together”, saying that they “show up for a better future for all Canadians”.
Harkening back to the federal election one year ago, he told the room that they “showed up because you are all-in for Canada”.
Taking risks is required again (as after WWII) to build a Canada that works for all, he said.
“Canadians are being called to serve – not against something, but for something, for each other — Canada is only strong when it works for everyone,” said Carney today.
“It’s worth fighting for Canada,” he said, but then he shifted to the bigger picture beyond party loyalties. It is an “ambitious spirit that built Canada”.
He said that Liberals build a strong economy as a means to a just society. “Kindness is a virtue not a weakness,” he iitemized.
“We should be under no illusions. The path we’ve chose is hard. … We’ll have to be pragmatic and determined to keep moving forward.”
“But this is the journey that we must make,” said Carney, something that Canadians regardless of political stripe are beginning to realize at a deeper level beyond ‘elbows up’.
Canada is now “in the middle of a transformation that will define our country for generations”, said Carney. “And Canadians sense it.”
He used that point to mentioning the obvious rub for possibly many at the convention this weekend, that some of their 300,000 new members of the past year include four MPs who have recently crossed over form the Conservatives (and one from the NDP).
Those five MPs have “joined our team”, wrapping that in the belief that “together, we can do better”. He also mentioned working cooperatively with provincial and territorial Premiers of other political stripes. “Inclusion does not require uniformity.”
“Hope is not a plan and nostalgia is not a strategy”, said Carney, a dig against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre without naming him as such.
“The world’s changing not gradually but suddenly,” said Carney. “If we stand still during this rupture we will surrender our future to others,” he added.
That was a lead into the essential nature of dealing with artificial intelligence. Carney outlines the possibilities: Canada will “either shape our future with AI or let it control our destiny”.
“We are the masters of our destiny,” he said in English, while in French using the original phase (translated as masters in our own home).
“Many of our strengths have become our weaknesses now…. We must take care of ourselves… this is not the time for politics as usual… we will build a Canada strong that no one will ever take away,” said Carney to a crowd that stood several times to applaud.
Carney mentioned now 14 major national projects. And there was a win for BC in Carney’s inclusion of forests along with aluminum and steel as key economic sectors. No mention of the auto sector — perhaps a sign of things to come or an avoidance as CUSMA talks come up.
He highlighted the goal to expand Canada’s electricity grid as a way to realize Canada’s “full potential” to “power homes and businesses and Canadian sovereignty”. Jsut recently he announced federal cooperation for a major wind power project in Nova Scotia.
To make life more affordable, today Carney talked about boosting competition in telecommunications, banking, and grocery stores…. for better prices and more choices. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has been working on those initiatives.
And, as it needed to be said (for the public audience and the bigger political picture). Canada will build an “affordable economy and a cooperative economy” for today’s youth and those of tomorrow.
New trade corridors and trade diversification are on track, there are increases in spending to support the defence sector, and major cutbacks in government regular operations spending. Carney referred to how Canada built homes rapidly after WWII and that a significant level of housing development needs to be done again (though not specifically mentioning Build Canada Homes or the recent Communities Strong Fund infrastructure program).
Earlier in the convention, Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Stephanie McLean retold her experience of how quickly a housing acquisition was made for military personnel in her riding, as an example of how the Carney government can move fast.
“It’s a more dangerous and divided world. That’s the reality,” said Carney today, noting that Canada continues to support Ukraine through the Coalition of the Willing, and that Canada is working with Nordic countries and the UK to “protect our Arctic”.
Carney was in Norway last month to observe cold-conditions military training. And Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand was in Iceland in February to open a Canadian consulate there.
Carney described artificial intelligence (AI) as the “defining technology of our era” with the concern that AI can improve lives or “benefit only some”.
“Our goal is AI for all. Governed by Canadian values, accountable to Canadians, and that serves Canadians,” said Carney, outlining that AI can make jobs more interesting and rewarding.
But Carney said today that AI policy and integration into the new economy must be “done right”. For health care it could mean shorter wait times and better service, while in education it could help meet every child where they are.
Artificial Intelligence Minister Even Solomon hosted a panel on AI earlier in the convention, clearly highlighting it as part of government policy.
Carney ran a few lines today about protecting cultural heritage and the natural environment.
Taking risks:
“We used to take risks in this country, and now we’re going to the Moon,” said Carney, who over the past week has clearly been pleased with Canadian Astronaut Col Jeremy Hansen (as seen in a few videos posted online and during a live conversation with Hansen while the Artemis II crew was in flight on their 10-day mission around the Moon and back).
“Jeremy Hansen advised us that as a country we have to be willing to take risks,” said Carney today, one day after the Artemis II crew returned to Earth from their Moon mission.
Liberal PM’s:
To the Liberal audience he highlighted the achievements of previous Liberal prime ministers:
- Louis St Laurent (1948-1957) – “independent foreign policy based on our values in a world that is losing theirs”.
- Lester B Pearson (1963-1968) – “established that true security is social through public pensions and public health care”
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1968-1979 and 1980-1984) – “enshrined the very architecture of a just society”
- Jean Chrétien (1993-2003) – “kept Canada united, sovereign and free”
- Paul Martin (2003-2006) – “combined social innovation, sustainable health care and sound fiscal management”
- Justin Trudeau (2015-2025) – “widened the scope of our inclusive society by lifting almost one million Canadian children out of poverty, walked the path of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and built a true compact with future generations”
===== RELATED:
- The Gladu surprise: another Conservative MP crosses to the Liberals (April 8, 2026)
- Canada’s defence budget reaches NATO target of 2% GDP (March 26, 2026)
- NDP MP Lori Idlout crosses to the Liberals (March 10, 2026)
- Three April 13 federal by-elections could produce Liberal majority (March 8, 2026)
- Politicians using ‘master in our own home’ are impeding their own cause (February 27, 2026)
- Edmonton Riverbend MP Matt Jeneroux crosses floor to Liberals (February 18, 2026)
- Silent switch: Michael Ma discretely crosses floor to Liberals (December 11, 2025)
- Budget-day boost: Conservatives lose one MP to the Liberals (November 5, 2025)
- Carney announces new directions and spending for Canadian defence (June 9, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA-NATIONAL | NATIONAL DEFENCE | 45th PARLIAMENT of CANADA | LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA | AEROSPACE | ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE