Why is Carney having ‘secret’ talks with Trump?
U.S. Ambassador spills the beans to Canadians
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Looking over media releases from the Prime Minister’s office, you will find in recent days Mark Carney has spoken to the Premier of China Li Qiang, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, and President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.
But one world leader’s name is conspicuously absent from the list: U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Thursday it was revealed that Prime Minister Carney is holding “direct talks” with President Trump to iron out a framework for a trade and security agreement, as reported by The Globe and Mail.
The Globe’s source was not the Prime Minister or any of his Cabinet members. Surprisingly, Canadians would still be in the dark about the Canada-Trump talks had it not been for Trump’s Ambassador to Canada.
Canadians learn of meetings from U.S. Ambassador
Ambassador Pete Hoekstra told The Globe and Mail that talks between the leaders and top cabinet ministers are being held under a cone of silence to ensure a positive outcome. “You have the relationship and the discussions between the President and the Prime Minister,” Mr. Hoekstra said, adding “they have had conversations, more than just the Oval Office.”
The Prime Minister and the President met in the Oval Office on May 6 but there has been no indication until now that they have been holding direct negotiations.
The CBC reports that a source, who spoke on the condition they not be named, said the two leaders have had a few phone calls in the evenings and exchanged text messages about trade since Carney's visit to the White House last month.
Why the secrecy?
It’s unclear to me why Prime Minister Carney did not disclose his direct talks with Trump. Canadians voted for him and his government to deal with the aggressive President, so why not demonstrate that’s what he’s doing on behalf of Canadians? Why keep it secret?
The day before the new broke of direct talks with Trump, Mark Carney simply said "intensive discussions" were ongoing.
This is the second time Canadians heard from the Americans first
The surprise disclosure this week of Canada-U.S. talks is not the first time Canadians learned about the ongoing negotiations for a new deal on continental trade and defence from Americans.
Two weeks ago, Canadians were stunned to hear President Trump announce his Golden Dome scheme to put weapons in space, and in the very next breath say, “and Canada has called us and they want to be a part of it.”
The Prime Minister confirmed the government’s interest in Golden Dome (and its reversal of longstanding Canadian policy against weapons in space) only after being asked by a reporter in a scrum, downplaying the talks.
Demands for transparency will grow
Demands for more information-sharing with the public as these high-stakes talks progress are sure to become louder.
“These conversations appear to be happening without the transparency that Canadians were promised and that your party has committed to in writing,” Interim NDP leader Don Davies wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister.
PeaceQuest readers are becoming concerned about the negotiations and whether Carney can negotiate a good deal with Trump. In a poll of PeaceQuest readers, most said they were growing more concerned (40%) or feeling he won’t negotiate a good deal (27%). With the election results still fresh, a third of readers are still confident he’ll negotiate a good deal (6%), or are willing to giving him a chance (27%).
No mandate for Golden Dome: readers
The Liberal government rebuffed objections over talks to join Trump’s Golden Dome missile defence system, arguing the issue was discussed during the election and Canadians voted for it. PeaceQuest readers disagree, with 92% saying “No, there was no mention of it.”
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In peace,
Steve
Carney is doing what all elitist prime ministers do. They present themselves as the savior of the country based on their supposed brilliance. What will save Canada is the collective understanding, will, and activism of the Canadian people. We need a new vision of Canada, one that eschews all military expenses and arrangements with American imperialism. We need an independent foreign policy which doesn't slavishly follow the Americans in such places as Palestine-Israel, Haiti, Latin America, etc. Not to mention Big OIl's undue influence in Canada's climate crisis. I keep thinking of the NDP-Waffle's slogan for an independent, socialist Canada.
At risk for Carney is a diversion from the narrative he has fed Canadian citizens. Move on! And we did with commitment. Yet, we look back at our Prime Minister who seems happy to play the ego game with Trump. Whatever occurs, the dynamic is Carney chasing Trumps approval. It’s not the will of the nation. It’s counter to the dedicated force needed to guide our industry into other markets. It’s hedging. He cannot negotiate in public but he must consider his earlier charge to Canadians.