Prime Minister Mark Carney forcefully rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that Canada “lives because of the United States,” saying instead that the country prospers because of its own values and identity. Speaking Thursday in Quebec City to open a cabinet planning forum, Carney said Canada’s strength lies in being inclusive, fair and ambitious, and that those qualities—not dependence—are what allow the country to thrive.
The remarks came after Trump, responding to Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum, told a Davos audience that Canada should be “grateful” to the United States. Carney addressed the comment directly, acknowledging the deep economic, security and cultural ties between the two countries while firmly rejecting the idea that Canada’s success hinges on Washington. The line, which was not included in his prepared remarks, appeared to be an ad-libbed response delivered at the close of the address.
Carney used the speech to frame Canada as a potential global example at a time of democratic backsliding and rising authoritarianism, arguing that diversity and openness are strategic assets rather than liabilities. He said Canada can show that another path is possible in a world marked by populism and ethnic nationalism, and pledged that his government will continue to protect social programs such as child care, dental care and pharmacare while forging deeper international partnerships.
The address set the tone for two days of closed-door cabinet discussions at The Citadelle of Quebec, a site rich in symbolism given its origins as a British-built fortress intended to defend against a potential American attack. Ministers are expected to hear from experts in finance, technology and global affairs as they map out plans to diversify trade and strengthen the economy ahead of Parliament’s return on Monday.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne later defended the prime minister’s pushback, saying Carney voiced what many Canadians were thinking and showed leadership by saying it publicly. Opposition critics, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, welcomed the rhetoric but questioned whether it would be matched by action, a challenge Carney acknowledged as he vowed to deliver on his agenda “fairly, and fast.”