Former Liberal Leader Raises Alarm Over Carney's Timeline for National Transformation
Prime Minister Mark Carney faces a critical time constraint in his ambitious effort to chart a new course for Canada on the global stage, according to former Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff. The warning comes as Carney attempts to navigate what he describes as a fundamental rupture in the international order.
Davos Warning Signals New Global Reality
Carney made headlines at the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he cautioned about significant fractures in the established world order. He specifically urged intermediate nations like Canada to form alliances as protection against what he termed "great powers" that are increasingly using economic integration as strategic weapons.
Ignatieff, who served as Liberal leader and Opposition leader from 2008 to 2011, told the Financial Post that Carney "got it right. We are in a new world." The Canadian author and historian elaborated on this perspective, noting that the traditional rules-based international order has essentially collapsed.
The End of Established International Norms
"The rules-based international order was always a bit of a fiction," Ignatieff stated. "It allowed us to believe we had the protection of the United States. We had the protection of international law. We're actually not in that world at all."
Instead, Ignatieff described a global landscape now divided into three distinct zones of influence dominated by the United States, China, and Russia. This fundamental shift has created new challenges for middle powers like Canada that previously relied on established international frameworks.
CUSMA Negotiations and Alternative Partnerships
Ignatieff suggested that Carney's recent statements indicate the Prime Minister believes Canada-United-States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) negotiations might be "dead in the water." According to Ignatieff, Carney appears prepared to accept a scenario where Canada faces a high-tariff regime with the United States rather than compromising core principles.
"Carney is saying 'if we have to live in a world in which CUSMA has dissolved and we're in a high tariff regime with the United States, then so be it,'" Ignatieff explained. He noted that Carney believes making concessions to U.S. President Donald Trump would not improve Canada's position.
The former Liberal leader proposed that Canada could develop alternatives to U.S.-dominated trade by forming strategic partnerships with other middle-sized nations and larger countries like India. However, he emphasized that building these new relationships represents a substantial undertaking.
The Critical Time Factor
"Carney's problem is all of this takes time," Ignatieff cautioned. "It can be done because we're a rich and capable country, and these other countries in Latin America and elsewhere are potential partners, but all of it takes time. This is a 10-year, 15-year project. It's doable, but the question is whether Carney's got the time to do it."
Ignatieff outlined what he sees as Carney's immediate priorities. First, the Prime Minister should initiate negotiations with Trump while clearly communicating Canada's non-negotiable positions. Second, Carney must demonstrate tangible progress on domestic initiatives, including oil terminals and mining agreements.
"He's got to show the Canadian public that it's not all promises, that he's beginning to deliver," Ignatieff emphasized, highlighting the importance of visible achievements to maintain public confidence during this transitional period.
The former Liberal leader's comments underscore the significant challenges facing Carney as he attempts to reposition Canada in an increasingly fragmented global landscape while working against what may be an unforgiving political timeline.
