Prime Minister Mark Carney says he still hasn’t spoken U.S. President Donald Trump since taking office last week, implying the president is waiting for the results of the federal election — whoever that may be after April 28.
Carney, who was sworn in as prime minister 10 days ago, told reporters Monday he’s willing to speak to Trump, if the president shows respect for Canada.
“I’m available for a call, but we’re going to talk on our terms. As a sovereign country — not as what he pretends we are — and on a comprehensive deal,” said Carney during a campaign stop in Gander, N.L.
In the latest sign of the deteriorating relationship between the two once close allies, Carney’s team said Trump hasn’t called Carney to congratulate him on becoming prime minister, and hasn’t posted anything online either.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney, speaking as he campaigned in Newfoundland on Monday, said his government is ready with additional potential retaliatory tariffs, as well as measures to support impacted workers and companies. Carney said the U.S. administration thinks it can weaken — or even own — Canada, a notion he rejected, saying ‘we are going to get stronger.’
Canada’s embassy in Washington has been in contact with U.S. officials about a potential call between the two leaders, but there isn’t a call on the books, said the Carney camp.
On day two of the federal election campaign, the Liberal leader suggested to reporters he thinks the president is instead waiting to see who will get a mandate from Canadians.
“Is it someone who is, to quote [Alberta Premier] Danielle Smith, in sync with him? Or is it someone who is going to stand up for Canadians?” Carney asked. “I’m going to stand up for Canadians.”
The Liberal leader was referring to comments Smith made during an interview with a right-wing U.S. media company earlier this month that’s now gaining traction.
Poilievre dodges question on Smith’s comments
During a March 8 interview with Breitbart, Smith spoke of the shifting political winds in Canada since Trump launched his trade war earlier this year.
Smith told Breitbart the threat of “unjust and unfair tariffs” had boosted Liberal support, and said she told U.S. administration officials that she hoped “we could put things on pause” so Canada could get through an election.
She went on to say Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is more aligned with the Trump administration’s agenda.
“There’s probably still always going to be areas that are skirmishes or disputes about particular industries when it comes to the border, but I would say, on balance, the perspective that Pierre would bring would be very much in sync with, I think … the new direction in America,” she added.
Smith spokesperson Sam Blackett denied accusations Smith had asked the U.S. to interfere in Canada’s election.
Poilievre has dodged reporters’ questions about Smith’s comments so far on the campaign
On Monday, he said people are free to make their own comments before repeating his pitch to put “Canada first” by building more energy projects and cutting taxes.
He suggested Trump’s own stated preference for a Liberal win shows Conservatives are best to take on the president and his ongoing tariff threats.
This month, the president escalated his trade war by imposing 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum entering the country, prompting Canada to effectively double its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.
Trump’s next volley is scheduled for April 2, although there’s now confusion about whether he’ll follow through.
Speaking on background, a White House official said that despite Trump’s repeated threats about sector-specific tariffs, they may not actually happen next week.
“Obviously POTUS has talked a lot about sectoral tariffs, but we may have sectoral tariffs on April 2 and we may not,” the official said in an email.
“No final decisions have been made yet on sectorial tariffs being tacked onto reciprocal for April 2 timeline.”
The federal election campaign, which kicked off officially on Sunday, has been largely framed as a referendum on who is best to take on Trump.
The Conservative Party had been trouncing the Liberal Party in public polling for more than a year, but CBC’s Poll Tracker suggests the two main parties are now neck-and-neck since the onset of the tariffs and former Liberal prime minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
