The Topline
- One year after Mark Carney was elected prime minister, a recent Abacus Data poll shows the Liberal Party’s lead over the Conservatives is the largest since August 2021.
- The findings suggest that one year into the Carney government, the political environment is very favourable for the Liberals, leaving some to wonder if Carney might call an early election to try and win more seats.
- Carney’s personal approval rating is also high, with roughly half of Canadians having a positive impression of the prime minister while less than three in 10 hold a negative view.
Switch sides,
back and forth
He’s not Trudeau, but that’s the point
If it’s true that numbers don’t lie, then Carney’s clearly doing something right. Polls are showing that Canadians are very pleased so far with his performance.
Following his election victory one year ago, Carney immediately started getting rid of any stench left behind by Justin Trudeau.
Consumer carbon pricing? Gone . Tax on capital gains? Also gone . EV mandates? See ya .
Critics would argue that cutting government revenues while also increasing spending is a bad idea right now. Our debt is already high enough. But it’s important to look at where Carney is spending the money.
The Canadian Armed Forces are receiving a much-needed boost after years of government neglect. Recruitment is getting an additional $2.6 billion and another $1 billion is going towards Arctic security.
Those initiatives are important because while you might not agree with everything U.S. President Donald Trump says , he is right about one thing. Canada has become complacent by assuming the U.S. military will always have its back.
But if Trump has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is guaranteed anymore. Carney gets it, so he’s making sure Canada is equipped to defend ourselves if needed.
Speaking of Trump, that’s another challenge where Carney has succeeded. He’s managed to stay friendly with a very unpredictable person while also standing up for Canada’s economy. Easier said than done.
Look at it this way. Trump has praised Carney in ways he rarely, if ever, did with Trudeau. That says something.
Obviously, Trump wasn’t too fond of Carney’s speech in Davos. And he still throws an occasional “Governor Carney” jab . But all in all, our relationship with the U.S. could be far worse since Carney took over from Trudeau.
Meanwhile, Trump keeps Trumping and he’s not leaving anytime soon. That’s why Carney has been travelling the world, hoping to diversify Canada’s list of trading partners. He’s secured agreements with China , India and Japan .
Back at home, he’s also made some amends with Alberta by signing a memorandum of understanding for another oil pipeline. This pipeline may or may not ever get built. But Carney’s doing what every good leader does, which is bringing all parties to the table to find common ground.
Being prime minister is not easy. But if the first year is any indication, we’ve got the right guy in the role.
The same old playbook
If it’s true that numbers don’t lie, then Canada’s economic indicators say it all. Carney’s first year has missed the mark.
According to the Fraser Institute, the Carney government is doubling down on the Trudeau government’s approach to fiscal management. That’s exactly what he said he wouldn’t do.
The Liberal election platform called for “a very different approach” to spending. Instead, the Carney government is spending even more, running larger deficits, and accumulating even more debt.
The national debt is projected to reach almost $3 trillion by the end of the decade, representing nearly 80% of the entire economy. When debt is growing faster than the economy, that’s a bad place to be.
An even more alarming number is that last month alone, Canada lost 84,000 jobs. That’s a lot.
The Fraser Institute’s report suggests Trudeau’s economic track record was the weakest when compared to the Harper and Chrétien governments. Carney’s first year suggests things haven’t changed for the better.
Carney is the former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England. You would think he’d be more on top of our financial situation during his first year as prime minister?
It's not just the economy that’s concerning. Separatist movements in Alberta and Quebec are gaining steam. That’s never a good sign for any prime minister.
For years now, Canadians have been fed up with service levels from government departments like the Canada Revenue Agency and Canadian Tranportation Agency . Meanwhile, Carney’s cutting the public service by 16,000 people. How is that going to help?
I’ll tell you what won’t help things: signing deals with countries that pose security threats and don’t respect the rule of law.
Nothing can replace Canada’s sizable trading relationship with the U.S., and so far there’s no sign it’s any better since Carney took office.
Look past the well-received international speeches and impressive resume. Canadians still aren’t seeing the benefits of what they were promised one year ago.
