PM admits Trump did bring up Canada as a 51st state in March 28 call but said he is “under no illusions” that he would agree to it.
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Liar, liar, pants on fire.
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Even Liberals understand that this was a prime minister not telling Canadians the full truth about what was said in a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump where it is now known Trump mentioned his quest to encourage Canada to become American’s 51st state. Even the CBC, which have been promised a $150-million boost in funding if he wins the election, are calling Prime Minister Mark Carney out on this bizarre obfuscation and misdirection.
When the Liberal leader told the public — as the Toronto Sun‘s Bryan Passifiume reported at the time — that it was a “cordial” and “positive” call and “the president respected Canada’s sovereignty today both in his private and public comments,” he cemented a narrative in the minds of the electorate set to go to the voting booth a month later.
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The narrative was that, rather than Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Carney, the former Bank of Canada and Bank of England Governor, was the man to deal with the Trump tariff issue and the best guy to negotiate with Trump himself.
“We made progress — it’s the beginning of negotiations,” Passifiume quoted Carney as saying. “We will have comprehensive discussions on the broader economic partnership after the federal election.”
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Many were calmed by the fact that Trump did not refer to Carney as “governor” as he did with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The president even called Carney by his first name.
But it turns out there was dishonesty here. Some key details were left out. It has now been revealed there was a lot more to that conservation. And a lot less that the public was told about. Trump did not respect Canada’s sovereignty if he floated effectively annexing Canada into the U.S.
Large lights were shined on this on the campaign trail Monday.
It was a stunning moment straight out of the movie A Few Good Men in which the lawyer character played by Tom Cruise said to the colonel played by Jack Nicholson: “Did you order the code red?” At first, the gruff senior officer dodged the question. But then, while under pressure, he was given the direct question, and he answered it.
“You’re Goddamn right I did.”
Something like that happened Thursday. It felt like a movie, but it was real. Carney was behind the podium in Port Moody, B.C. under what was an intense interrogation from media on his campaign.
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First, CBC’s Ashley Burke went at him with the information Radio-Canada reported that said the call was not as benign as originally suggested.
Unlike what Carney said back on March 28 — that he and Trump had a cozy call — Trump in fact did bring up the sovereignty issue.
Carney attempted to dodge the question.
“On March 28, did President Trump bring up the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state during that call with you?” Burke asked.
Carney rolled his eyes before taking a pause.
“As I just said, the president brings this up all the time. He brought it up yesterday and he has brought it up before,” Carney said. “There is a difference between a conversation that was held between leaders of government, which was this conversation, and a discussion that led directly to an agreement as sovereign countries that we would have negotiations about our partnership following the election on Monday. That’s what the president and I agreed. That’s what both of us reported back. And that’s what I am ready to do.”
After further words, including that Trump “wants to break us” so the U.S. “can own us,” Burke followed up.
“I asked you about this March 28 after the call and you said that President Trump respected Canada’s sovereignty both privately and in this public conversation. Were you being truthful?
Now stone-faced, Carney said, “he absolutely did. Look, the president has certain things … The president has certain things in his mind, that he reverts back to all the time. The president says lots of things, but the essence of the discussion and where we moved the conversation to, was exactly what I said.”
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Then Mackenzie Gray of Global News took to the microphone and he didn’t let up.
“I will give you one opportunity again, yes or no, did the president bring up the 51st state in his call with you?”
“I said that he did, I said that he did.”
Boom!
There was the admission.
Carney then switched his answer to French for a few seconds before coming back into English. It was like he knew he was caught. He then went into another word salad.
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“Sorry, Mackenzie, I should be answering you in English,” Carney said. “Him raising something and where the discussion is, he has these things in his mind, this is not news. He raised it all the time. Then the question is what’s going to be done with it? And does he understand where we stand or, more particularly, where I stand? He is under no illusions. Never. Absolutely not. Never. Move on. It’s two sovereign nations coming together, negotiating our partnership, our relationship. The question is, will there be a deal acceptable to Canada. There is a lot that will never be on the table, and I have been absolutely clear about that.”
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But the damage was done.
The big question now is on Monday will Canadians still vote for Carney because they think he’s the best guy to deal with Trump, or is this perceived misleading of the public going to throw that advantage away?
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