Carney Rebukes Trump Remarks, Says Canada “Thrives Because We Are Canadian”
QUEBEC CITY: Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back forcefully against comments from U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, rejecting Trump’s assertion that “Canada lives because of the United States” and emphasizing Canada’s independence and national identity.
Speaking at the close of a nearly 30-minute address to kick off a Liberal cabinet meeting in Quebec City, Carney departed from his prepared remarks to respond directly to Trump’s comments, which were made Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership — in the economy, in security and in rich cultural exchange,” Carney said. “But Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.”
An official in the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the lines were added to Carney’s speech and were not part of his original text.
Carney’s broader remarks struck a strongly domestic and campaign-style tone, focusing on Canadian values such as inclusivity, fairness and democratic resilience. He did not take questions from reporters.
“There are long periods of history when these values can prosper unchallenged. Ours is not one of them,” Carney said, arguing Canada must serve as an example at a time of global uncertainty.
“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.”
