MNI BRIEF: Canada PM Carney Derides Trump's 51st State Idea
MNI (OTTAWA) - Mark Carney used his debut press conference as Prime Minister on Friday to call U.S. President Donald Trump's talk of making Canada the 51st state "crazy" and said he will first visit London and Paris rather than Washington to develop more reliable security and trade partners.
Carney told reporters that his two priorities are “protecting Canadian workers and their families in the face of unjustified foreign trade actions” and building a more resilient domestic economy. He reiterated earlier pledges of trimming federal program spending to free up more money for investment, accelerating homebuilding, making Canada a “superpower in both conventional and clean energies” and breaking down internal trade barriers. (See: MNI: Carney To Take On Trump, Be Fiscally Cautious - Ministers)
The former BOC and BOE Governor also declined comment on his thinking about when to call an election and where in Canada the unelected leader will run for a seat in Parliament.