This writer used to joke that Canadians don’t think we are good at anything until someone outside the country says we are. The truth of this sentiment was on display this past week after Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
In many ways, it was a very depressing message – our current rules-based international order is over – and it echoed sentiments Carney had expressed before – that the U.S. is no longer a reliable trade partner and that Canada must look elsewhere – but as they say in politics and comedy acts, timing is everything.
After months of U.S. President Donald Trump’s erratic bullying, threats and bragging, and in the immediate aftermath of his threats to take Greenland by force in the name of strengthening U.S. security, Carney’s speech to the international who’s who, struck a deep chord amongst commentators, journalists and world leaders.
Praise flooded in from foreign sources. California Governor Gavin Newsom said: “I had more leaders from the United States sending me the transcript…Wow. The clarity that came from the prime minister of Canada. It was incredibly effective.”
“Never Trump” Republican Steve Schmidt called Carney “the leader of the free world.” UK Labour Leader veteran Alastair Campbell said it was “one of the best—and most important—of recent times.”
British Virgin Group billionaire Sir Richard Branson described the speech as “one of the most insightful, albeit sobering, political speeches in a long time. Carney tells it as it is.”
New York Times author Nicholas Kristof described the speech as “brilliant.” “Without vitriol or exaggeration, he outlines the harsh new world that Trump is leading us all toward. Much recommended.”
So naturally, Canadian commentators followed suit. The headline in the Globe and Mail, which reprinted the entire speech was “an address for the ages.”
It was crisp, it was consistent with previous sentiments Carney had offered about the changing world order and our place within it. It was also filled with memorable quotes that we will hear repeated over and over – “if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
More importantly for Canadians, it outlines the philosophical framework guiding Carney’s policy choices.
It provides context for his “deals with the devil” with China and Qatar, two countries that have a less than stellar reputation for holding democratic values. Both are risky bets, but in Carney’s view, necessary to start building a more resilient Canadian economy that can survive in the “new world order.” They will not be the last such bets he makes.
This writer has also said that in government, there are rarely right or wrong choices, but instead, a series of least wrong options. That is the state of the universe we now find ourselves in.
We can see it in Carney’s choice to do a deal with China that was good for the West’s canola farmers and Maritime lobster producers, but highly risky for Ontario’s automotive industry. Premier Doug Ford, whose mantra has been to “protect Ontario,” understandably, came out strongly against the deal.
The deal is risky. But there are more choices to be made. Alberta needs an oil pipeline. B.C. is opposed. Quebec’s dairy supply management system could jeopardize a future Canada-U.S. trade deal. What is in the best interests of the entire country, versus strong regional views. There will be no easy wins.
In many ways, our country has been spoiled. Thanks to geography, we have never had a serious threat to our physical sovereignty from another country (1812 and 1776 hardly count), nor a soul-shattering terrorist attack on our soil. We have had the luxury of living next door to the world’s most successful and previously open economy.
And we largely, took it all for granted, as the natural order of things. Carney’s speech is a wake-up call to us, just as much as it was to other so-called “middle power” countries in the Davos audience. Hopefully we will all take it to heart.
Janet Ecker is a former Ontario Finance Minister, Minister of Education, Minister of Community and Social Services and Government House Leader in the governments of Premier Mike Harris and Premier Ernie Eves. After her political career, she served as the founding CEO of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, a public-private partnership dedicated to building Toronto region into an international financial centre. She currently sits on a number of corporate and non-profit boards, agencies and advisory committees.
Ms. Ecker received the Order of Canada for her public service contributions and was recognized as one of the “Most Influential People in the World’s Financial Centres” by Financial Centres International. She also received a “Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award” from the Women’s Executive Network and the Richard Ivey School of Business, among other awards. She is also one of the founders of Equal Voice, a national, multi-partisan organization working to elect more women.
