Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is pushing back against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s criticism of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s international outreach, insisting that Canada’s foreign policy is yielding results and will strengthen the country’s economy in the long run.
Poilievre accused the Liberal government of prioritizing “photo ops” over substance, citing ongoing U.S. tariffs, Chinese restrictions on Canadian canola, and U.K. beef bans as evidence that foreign trips have not delivered.
“Grip-and-grin photo ops in grand salons are the illusion. Look at the results,” Poilievre said in a social media post.
Speaking on CTV Power Play Monday, Anand countered that the Conservatives are “grasping at straws”, highlighting Canada’s track record:
“Canada is the only G7 country that has a free-trade agreement with every other G7 country. We have strong trade relationships. What we are doing is enhancing those relationships by making sure we’re leveraging our international ties.”
Anand said Prime Minister Carney’s team is “doubling down” on efforts to diversify export markets to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States, one of his key election promises. She acknowledged progress takes time but stressed Canada is on “good footing.”
“Changing the composition of a trading relationship does not occur overnight,” Anand said. “But we are pursuing those relationships, not retreating. You’re going to see us continue to sign additional new agreements with other partners.”
She pointed to:
- Recent talks with the European Union
- A new trade agreement with Indonesia signed last week
- Upcoming visits to India, Singapore, and China to advance negotiations
At the United Nations General Assembly Monday, Anand outlined the Carney government’s three-pronged foreign policy: defence and security, economic resilience, and core values. She said this strategy will ensure Canada’s international trade agreements “benefit Canadian businesses and Canadian workers.”
“We are not letting our foot off the gas,” Anand said. “We’ll continue to ensure that there are markers of success and that Canadian businesses are fully aware of the opportunities that exist in our trade relationships.”
While Canada’s economy contracted by 1.6 per cent in Q2, Anand said trade diversification remains a cornerstone of long-term resilience. She emphasized that being the only G7 country with trade agreements across all other G7 partners provides a solid foundation to expand further.