Carney says ‘we’ve got to keep on this track’ as he looks ahead to 2026

Prime Minister Mark Carney says it will take time for Canadians to see the results of efforts to grow and diversify the economy, but insists “we’ve got to keep on this track.” In a year-end interview with Global National anchor and executive editor Dawna Friesen, Carney said Canada is already in a better place than it was when he first became prime minister nine months ago, due to a renewed focus on strengthening international relationships and growing domestic industry. Yet he acknowledged there is more work to be done to address Canadians’ affordability concerns, and that a “relentless” growth agenda is necessary. “We’re making progress,” he said. “We’re in a stronger position than we were nine months ago and at the start of this year, but we’ve got to keep going. And we will keep going.” Carney added the “core” of his government’s agenda is to keep growing the economy and moving away from reliance on the United States, which has hammered Canada with tariffs on multiple sectors. Uncertainty around the upcoming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on free trade (CUSMA) adds further urgency to that project. “What I would say to Canadians, the good news is virtually everybody wants to do more with Canada,” he said, pointing to a slew of international agreements he’s signed on trade and defence. “We’re an increasingly confident nation that has ambition. So people want to deal with us now. That’s good for the economy, it’s good for jobs, it’s good for the future, it’s good for our independence from the United States. But it also brings an opportunity to help shape a world that is more dangerous, more divided.” Carney campaigned promising decisive action in his leadership and general election campaigns this year, and was asked about how he plans to approach challenges including efforts towards a new pipeline and the war in Ukraine. “I’m a politician, but I’m still a pragmatist,” he said. On the topic of MPs crossing the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberals , Carney noted that “they came to us” and that he did not “lure” anyone from the opposition in the hopes of building a majority government, which voters denied him in April. “This is a positive vote for the government, supporting the government at a crucial time for our country,” he said. Carney also expressed optimism that major pieces of government legislation on border security, hate crimes, and bail and sentencing reforms will be passed quickly in the new year, after those bills stalled at committee. “We’re doing everything we can at the federal level to address the challenges in our communities,” he said, adding Ottawa is “building out momentum for more progress to be made.” Canada won't 'rush into a bad deal' on trade After vowing to reach a new trade and security relationship with the U.S. this summer, Carney says he’s now looking ahead to the CUSMA review scheduled for next July. In the meantime, he said Canada will be able to further...

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