Wednesday May 7, 2025 | NATIONAL NEWS (reporting from VICTORIA, BC) [Posted at 2:22 pm PT | Updated 10:40 am]
Political analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The facial response from Trump when Carney said that Canada is not for sale, ever, says it all.
It was a look of ‘maybe, well, we’ll see’.
The war is on.
When Carney asserted that ‘Canada is not for sale’ the response from Trump was ‘never say never’ and that it’s just about ‘time’. Carney could be seen to be saying “never, never, never, never, never” amidst the din of voices in the room in support of Trump.
It was a mild show of dominance by Trump compared to the disastrous dress-down that Trump did to Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy a few months ago, but a pushback it was none the less.
It was dignified of Carney to not go cap in hand with (figuratively speaking) incense for the king. France’s president and Britain’s prime minister were charming but a bit ingratiating in their meetings with Trump. A former hockey goalie, Carney held the net for Canada.
Canada’s sovereignty on live TV:
Most Canadians are likely pleased with how their new prime minister stood up to the US president on international live TV in the May 6 meeting in the oval office at the White House in Washington, DC. It was delivery of Canada as a sovereign nation with expectation of a fight but not backing down from that fight.
But Trump who seems driven by the ethereal (what a beautiful shape to North America on a map) as well as the material (let’s make a deal for those critical minerals and other prized resources) seemed respectful enough to Carney but seemed undeterred in his desire to annex Canada.
Maybe that ‘straight line with a ruler’ is there for a reason… there are differences between Canadian and US culture that are stark and definitive. The 49th parallel is a reminder of why we are sovereign. A visit by King Charles III to Canada later this month will be another reminder.
New but ready for the moment:
It’s interesting that both these men are relatively new to the job. Mark Carney was elected just over a week ago (but has been in the wings for years), and US President Donald Trump became president just over 100 days ago (though burnished by four years in the presidential wilderness).
Canada’s saving grace is Carney’s big-picture economic strategic thinking, otherwise Trump would already think he has his annexation plan is secure. His remark about time being the only factor should still concern all Canadians as to the president’s intentions to win the trade war that he started against Canada and the rest of the world.
In the end, Canada will prevail. This country has a special sense of being that is difficult to articulate. But the ire and hackles raised by Trump in nearly every Canadian in response to the “51st state” taunt is articulate enough.
Hopefully our new prime minister Mark Carney can continue to formulate forward-looking and secure ways to manifest Canada’s economic security and intact sovereignty. So far, the plan from the new Liberal government leadership is to gather the facts and solidify a plan.
So far, Canadians have heard about enabling inter-provincial trade (with a promise of the federal barriers to that dropped by July 1), and that workers in key sectors (e.g. auto and forestry) will be protected.
Carney’s boardroom negotiating skills are Canada’s best shot at winning this war. Too bad the NDP (which brought in many new social security programs for Canadians in recent years) was a sacrificial lamb in bringing the Liberal leader to a strong election result. People have put their faith in Carney and his Liberal government at a level most people can still not put their finger on.
Meanwhile, people by necessity must get on with their lives that for many is a struggle of a sort not experienced by most folks in this century. The cost of living has risen dramatically in recent years. The household consumer debt level has been high for at least a decade. Many households live month to month.
The Canadian economy is in desperate need of a reset. Too bad the Trump factor is what kick-started the shift that will eventually create the ‘new Canada’… standing stronger than ever in the values that are special and unique to this country.
Even with provincial and political differences, most Canadians realize they’ve won the lottery of life to be born in this beautiful country with resources and a verve to do our best.
Each one of us — households, businesses and communities — will need to step up in ways so far probably not seen. Canada now heads into a new phase of revision and renewal against headwinds we didn’t see coming.
Who was there:
At the May 6 meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister to be featured on live TV with US President Trump — surrounded by gold and glitz and a room packed with news media and staffers — were Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, and Public Safety Minister David McGuinty. For the most part, the body posture of Canada’s team mimicked that of Trump — hands folded in their laps, leaning slightly forward.
On the sofa opposite were US Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Howard Lutnick, US Secretary of Commerce. Vance was intently taking it all in as Carney spoke, as if he had just encountered a new sort of cat — someone the US administration has yet to figure out.
After the approximately 30-minute televised meeting there was a closed-door meeting where both sides got down to business. Carney told media afterward that it was a “constructive” meeting. Key issues were discussed, some in detail. This is a good sign for further opportunities for negotiation between the two countries.
===== RELATED:
- Eby on Carney’s trip to Washington: take no guff (May 6, 2025)
- King Charles III to deliver Canada’s Throne Speech (May 2, 2025)
- Election 2025 aftermath: Canadians got what they wanted and needed (May 1, 2025)
- Trump & Vance dress down Zelenskyy in the Oval Office (February 28, 2025)
NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA-NATIONAL | CANADA-USA