CALGARY — Former prime minister Jean Chretien has a clear message for world leaders heading to next week’s G7 summit in Alberta: don’t take the bait if U.S. President Donald Trump tries to stir controversy.
Speaking at a conference hosted by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy on Thursday, Chretien warned that Trump has a tendency to behave unpredictably and can act like a “bully” on the global stage.
“If he has decided to make a show to be in the news, he will do something crazy,” said Chretien. “Let him do it and keep talking normally.”
Chretien pointed to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent White House visit as a model of restraint. During that meeting, Trump joked about Canada becoming part of the United States. Carney’s reply was firm but brief: “Canada is not for sale, the White House is not for sale, Buckingham Palace is not for sale.” When Trump responded, “Never say never,” Carney simply moved on without engaging further. “That’s the way to handle that,” Chretien said.
Carney will host Trump and other G7 leaders — including heads of France, Germany, the U.K., Japan, Italy, and the European Union — at the summit, which begins Sunday in the Rocky Mountains southwest of Calgary. The summit is expected to focus on trade, security, and climate cooperation, amid ongoing global instability.
Chretien also defended Carney’s controversial decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the summit, despite tensions over the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia — an incident that the RCMP has linked to Indian government agents.
While some Liberal MPs have called the invitation to Modi “a bad idea,” Chretien argued it’s better to keep communication open. “It’s always good to talk,” he said. “You can’t go on your high horse for every little problem. You have to navigate.”
Chretien appeared alongside former deputy prime minister and finance minister John Manley during the panel session. The conference also featured remarks from former prime minister Joe Clark and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, with discussions centered around Canada’s global energy role and the significance of past G7 summits.
Organized by the University of Calgary’s G7 Research Group, the event aims to prepare the public and policymakers for the key challenges and debates expected to take center stage during the high-stakes summit.