As Prime Minister Mark Carney enters a new year, a pivotal question hangs over his government: will he redefine Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples, just as he dramatically reversed his predecessor's environmental and economic agenda?
A Swift Departure from the Trudeau Era
Mark Carney's ascent to power was rapid, and his dismantling of Justin Trudeau's policy framework was even faster. The symbolic moment came early, with the new Prime Minister boasting about cancelling the consumer carbon tax while Trudeau himself watched from the front row. This set the tone for a comprehensive policy overhaul.
The reversal was sweeping. Carney's government scrapped the capital gains tax increase, introduced a middle-class tax cut, and abandoned talk of "phasing out" the oilsands. Instead, it championed a "build, build, build" mantra focused on natural resource infrastructure. The administration endorsed LNG projects that Trudeau had once claimed had "no business case" and signed a pipeline agreement in Alberta. The resignation of Trudeau's Environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, marked the final note in this policy retreat.
The Lingering Question of Indigenous Policy
With Trudeau's economic and environmental legacies largely cast aside, political observers now ask if his approach to Indigenous affairs will be the next to undergo a transformation. Trudeau's premiership was intrinsically linked to the 2015 release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report. He embraced its findings, driven by what analysts describe as a mix of liberal self-reflection and personal guilt over his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's, assimilationist policies.
As commentator Chris Selley noted, Trudeau's stance carried historical weight. If Canada's actions were to be strictly litigated as genocide, figures like former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien—who was Minister of Indian Affairs during a key period for residential schools—would face intense scrutiny. While Trudeau may not have believed Canada was fundamentally "genocidal," he was motivated by a desire to rectify the historical oversight of his father's era.
Carney's Uncharted Path Forward
The contrast between the two leaders was visually underscored during the throne speech. While Trudeau attended, attempting to "keep the old flame flickering," and greeted King Charles III in casual sneakers, both the Monarch and Prime Minister Carney wore their formal Order of Canada medallions. The image captured a shift in tone and protocol.
As 2026 unfolds, the direction of Carney's Indigenous policy remains a key unknown. Having distanced himself so definitively from Trudeau's other flagship agendas, and with the opposition accusing him of adopting Conservative policies, the First Nations file represents a significant test. Will Carney seek a new, distinct course for Indigenous Canadians, or will the framework established by the TRC report continue to guide the government's approach? The answer will define a crucial chapter in his prime ministership.
