Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that staying true to Canada’s core values is essential to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, pushing back against recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump as his cabinet gathered in Quebec City for a two-day retreat. Speaking at The Citadelle of Quebec, a site steeped in Canadian military history, Carney said the country was built by people of different backgrounds united by openness and multiculturalism—values he argued position Canada as a global example as authoritarianism spreads.
Without naming Trump directly, Carney addressed the U.S. president’s assertion that “Canada lives because of the United States,” emphasizing the depth of the bilateral relationship while rejecting the premise outright. Canada and the United States have forged a strong partnership in trade, security and culture, he said, but Canada’s success is rooted in its own identity. “Canada thrives because we are Canadian,” Carney told ministers and senior officials.
The remarks came days after Carney’s high-profile address at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, where he urged middle powers to band together against economic coercion by larger states. That speech drew international praise and a sharp response from Trump, who said Carney should be “grateful.” Canada–U.S. relations remain a central focus for the government as the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement comes up for review this year.
Opposition reaction was swift. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre praised Carney’s rhetoric but said it must be matched by concrete action, calling on the government to approve pipelines, strengthen the military, tackle foreign interference and accelerate major projects. He argued that nearly a year into Carney’s mandate, expectations have been raised but results remain limited.
As the retreat got underway, ministers were set to hear from leaders in finance, community services, technology and global affairs, including Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand, Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley, and senior economists from major financial institutions. Experts said the discussions come at a critical moment, with trade tensions and the prospect of further tariffs looming. Fen Osler Hampson of Carleton University said cabinet must focus on preparing Canadians for a difficult economic year and accelerating infrastructure development to protect jobs and exports.
Carney outlined several government priorities, including higher defence spending, an artificial intelligence strategy, advancing major projects and passing Criminal Code reforms. With Parliament set to resume Monday and the minority Liberal government sitting two seats short of a majority, the prime minister faces mounting pressure to turn the themes of sovereignty, resilience and values into legislative and economic action.