Carney’s defining moment
at upcoming G7 summit

Look for Canada’s Prime Minister to establish himself as a world leader in Kananaskis

By Irwin Rapoport

June 11, 2025

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will host the G7 Summit in the scenic setting of Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17. This gathering of world leaders offers Carney an ideal platform to confront major challenges: navigating global crises, reasserting Canadian leadership, countering the disruptive influence of U.S. President Donald Trump both globally and within North America, and consolidating his leadership at home while moving beyond the legacy of Justin Trudeau’s troubled tenure as prime minister.

Canada’s new prime minister is ambitious, driven, and will not be deterred as he tackles diplomatic and economic challenges and solidifies his leadership at home.

In this context, the G7 summit represents a crucial opportunity for Carney to help de-escalate global tensions and shape constructive solutions. Drawing on his experience at the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, Carney is well-positioned to address the economic challenges left by the previous government and to restore Canada’s stature as an effective and principled global player.

Carney as modern-day Caesar

The late S.A. Handford, who translated Gaius Julius Caesar’s Gallic War, noted that the late Roman Republic produced many successful generals, orators, politicians, and administrators, but what made Caesar unique is that all these qualities were found in one man, along with a superb intellect and relentless drive to succeed. He had an edge on his political and military opponents in that they could never figure him out, as him being miles ahead of them in terms of developing strategies to attain his multi-level goals.

Caesar’s talents spanned economics, science—he introduced the Julian calendar—governance, and law. He had a rare ability to grasp both the big picture and the smallest details, devising immediate, practical solutions. His abilities were widely recognized, and he had little patience for incompetence. Caesar kept his inner circle small, but those he trusted, he relied on deeply.

Carney is a modern-day Caesar and, since his election last April with a strong minority government, is just as determined and driven. While he has his trusted advisors, government actions, policies, and strategic planning emanate from him.

Carney aims to govern according to the rule of law, but he’s also willing to bend the rules and persuade others, much like Caesar and President Lyndon Johnson—using political leverage, rewarding loyal allies, and even bringing opponents like Alberta Premier Danielle Smith into the fold. While this assertive style can be effective, history shows that hubris can have consequences: it led to Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC, and similar overconfidence could result in setbacks, both minor and major, for Carney.

Carney’s approach is informed by his experience at the Bank of Canada, the Bank of England, the United Nations, and Brookfield Asset Management, where he developed a reputation for strategic thinking and decisive action. With this background, let’s examine how Carney is navigating global crises and redefining Canada’s international role.

‘Carney is determined to secure Canada’s interests by forging new partnerships and reducing reliance on the United States, while leveraging Canada’s reputation for fairness and humanitarianism.’

Trump’s “America First” policy has diminished U.S. leadership and disrupted the global economy, undermining the longstanding U.S.-Canada economic relationship. In response, Carney is shifting Canada’s economic and diplomatic focus toward Europe and Asia, seeking to diversify trade and alliances.

As Trump adopts an unpredictable stance on Ukraine, resulting in unnecessary Ukrainian casualties, Carney is aligning Canada more closely with Europe, strengthening NATO ties, and supporting Ukraine militarily and economically, a stance that is both principled and politically advantageous given Canada’s significant Ukrainian community.

This realignment signals a new era in Canadian foreign policy: Carney is determined to secure Canada’s interests by forging new partnerships and reducing reliance on the United States, while leveraging Canada’s reputation for fairness and humanitarianism on the world stage.

There is uncertainty about whether President Trump intends to withdraw the United States from NATO, but he is clearly using the threat as leverage to push alliance members to increase their defence spending. In response, Prime Minister Carney recently announced that Canada will boost its defence budget by $9 billion this year, reaching the NATO target of 2% of GDP, five years ahead of schedule. This move signals Canada’s commitment to collective security and will likely involve purchasing additional weapons systems from Europe, with the expectation that some manufacturing will take place domestically. Ongoing cost overruns with the U.S.-built F-35 fighter jets may prompt Canada to consider more affordable European alternatives.

The G7 summit is poised to establish Carney as a respected statesman. Among the world leaders he has invited are Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite controversy surrounding Modi’s government, which is accused of involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada and passing legislation that undermines the rights of India’s Muslim minority. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, another controversial figure, has declined to attend this year’s summit.

By forging closer ties with European and Asian leaders, Carney is seeking strong allies for upcoming tariff negotiations. Trump stands isolated at the G7, having imposed tariffs that have affected economies worldwide. Modi’s presence increases pressure on Trump and offers Canada and the EU an opportunity to deepen economic relations with India. While Trump prefers transactional deals, the presence of so many world leaders may create a more conciliatory environment and soften his positions.

Carney and Trump are engaged in direct talks to reach a trade and security agreement that would end the current 50% tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel. Canada has faced criticism for appearing to sideline Mexico, its USMCA partner, as Trump seeks to dismantle the trade pact. However, Sheinbaum’s participation at the summit gives Mexico a chance to strengthen ties with the EU, and a private meeting between Carney, Trump, and Sheinbaum could help resolve tensions that are disrupting jobs, economic growth, and supply chains across North America.

‘Trump stands isolated at the G7, having imposed tariffs that have affected economies worldwide.’

So far, despite the recent escalation in Kashmir, cooler heads have prevailed between India and Pakistan—neither nation wants a nuclear conflict. Meanwhile, Canada has joined allies like the UK, Australia, Norway, and New Zealand in sanctioning two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, for inciting extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and advocating harsh measures in Gaza. Many European countries believe Israel’s response to the devastating October 7 Hamas attack has gone too far and risks destabilizing the region and backfiring on Israel itself.

Canada remains a steadfast ally of Israel, but insists that Israel must allow food, water, and medical supplies into Gaza and end both the deliberate targeting of civilians and the creation of starvation conditions. Israel’s use of the conflict to strike neighbouring countries is likely to have both immediate and long-term consequences. Should the G7 summit’s unprecedented gathering of world leaders help broker a peaceful resolution—one that sees the simultaneous release of remaining hostages and a halt to bombing and ground assaults—it would be a major diplomatic achievement for Carney.

Carney recognizes that Canada will never be a military superpower, nor does it need to be. Instead, Canada’s strengths lie in its abundant resources, its reputation for fairness, and its commitment to humanitarian causes. He is acutely aware of Canada’s diplomatic legacy and the damage done to its reputation under Trudeau. By leveraging diplomatic and economic strengths, Carney aims to open new markets for Canadian goods and foster goodwill, reinforcing Canada’s positive leadership role internationally.

Despite President Trump’s repeated and unfounded claims that the U.S. does not need Canadian oil, steel, aluminum, lumber, electricity, raw materials, or food products, these exports remain vital to the American economy. Trump’s rhetoric—suggesting that Canada and other nations are exploiting the U.S.—has caused widespread and unnecessary economic disruption, harming Americans as much as Canadians.

Trudeau’s lack of preparation was evident when he met Trump at Mar-a-Lago after the 2024 federal election, allowing the U.S. president to dominate the encounter. In contrast, Carney was far more strategic during his White House visit, earning Trump’s respect at their joint press conference. Nonetheless, Trump’s persistent belief that Canada should be the 51st state remains undeterred by diplomatic exchanges.

Kananaskis and beyond

The G7 summit offers a crucial opportunity to ease global tensions and lay the groundwork for practical solutions. Mark Carney’s experience as governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England is expected to be invaluable as he tackles the economic challenges left by the Trudeau government—including a ballooning national debt, record-breaking annual deficits, unchecked and wasteful spending, and a significant expansion of the federal civil service alongside soaring consulting costs. Trudeau’s administration struggled with effective governance, a situation exacerbated by the introduction of a consumer carbon tax and a widely unpopular proposal to hike capital gains taxes.

‘Carney is determined to succeed where Trudeau failed—specifically, in securing a seat for Canada on the United Nations Security Council.’

Climate change is an undeniable reality, with its impacts increasingly felt across the country. Although Carney expressed environmental concerns during the recent election, his ambition to make Canada an energy superpower sometimes conflicts with climate action. More oil and gas pipelines—such as the proposed Tidewater and Energy East projects—are likely to move forward, as are new hydroelectric developments in Quebec, Labrador, and British Columbia. However, large-scale hydro projects are not without controversy, as they flood vast areas and harm biodiversity. Mining in ecologically sensitive regions like Ontario’s Ring of Fire is also expected to increase.

Many of these resource projects are poised to proceed despite strong opposition from First Nations. In Ontario, for example, new legislation allows for accelerated resource extraction, sparking fierce resistance from Indigenous communities who warn of legal challenges and direct action to protect their rights and lands. Similar tensions could arise in British Columbia and elsewhere, as provincial and federal leaders push ahead with development plans.

Looking ahead, Carney faces a daunting array of challenges over the next four years, from managing the AI revolution and climate change to navigating international instability and immigration reform. If his track record and character assessment hold, Carney is likely to achieve many of his objectives. He is not motivated by personal popularity or glory, but by a conviction to do what he believes is best for Canada. Whether this approach will secure him a second term remains uncertain, but his resolve to address the country’s most pressing issues is clear.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WestmountMag.ca or its publishers.

Feature image: Canada’s Prime Minister Mike Carney, at the Cabinet Planning Forum