72 Comments
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C Lutes's avatar

As a conservative who has been pretty down this week what a refreshing hopeful way to start my weekend after listening to Carneys press conference. Imagine no games, no preening, no gloating! Had forgotten what a real leader was like. i am not converted to the liberals but I have immense hope that just maybe the parties will work together for Canada. PS - I hope Carneys new caucus has some fresh faces

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Jason's avatar

Indeed, this was the adult in the room leadership I was expecting and I’m heartened to see some broad-based benefit of the doubt being offered by the citizenry.

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John Dowell's avatar

Same here. It was an encouraging start. Maybe it signals a more congenial and collaborative approach to dealing with Canada's problems.

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Mark L's avatar

You and I

And lots and lots of Canadians as well

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Demetre Deliyanakis's avatar

Mark Carney did an excellent job during his press conference. It is refreshing to hear someone answer questions at a press conference without word salad. Carlos Leitao was the Finance Minister for the Quebec Liberal Government from 2014 to 2018. He could take over from Champagne. I am curious to see who Carney will appoint to his cabinet. I expect Anita Anand to get a high-level Cabinet position.

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Heidi Legg's avatar

Well said.

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Mark Sternman's avatar

The opening salvo about a lack of an effort to reject Monday's results may seem rote, but should not. If in the United States, where I live, a congressional seat flipped after a postelection vote validation process conspiracy theories would dominate social and traditional media for days if not longer. In your nation, the fact that a riding went from the Grits to the PQ seemed to produce barely a shrug. I vacationed in Montreal around the election, and the seemingly greater public engagement on the streets of the city regarding the Habs game as compared to the federal election seemed odd at first but ultimately strikes me as a sign of a healthy democracy (and the proper respect for playoff hockey).

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Talking Pie's avatar

So one thing… I’m uncertain how I feel about the King Charles thing.

It’s impressive that he could get him. I like how this announcement makes carney look influential, connected before the Trump visit.

I don’t love strong reliance, usage, deference to the monarchy. I’m on with keeping that, but not overdoing it.

I don’t quite see how this underscores our sovereignty and don’t think carney adequately explained it. I see it as under cutting our independence.

But maybe it implies - or will look like to Trump - like England has our back. Or maybe it is just a gangsta move (announcement) ahead of the White House visit.

And those are okay reasons… although a small part of me feels like it undercuts the optics of our independence

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Darcy Hickson's avatar

You are missing the unifying feature of the Monarchy. An institution that is above politics and is a beacon of hope that we can all work alongside each other.

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Talking Pie's avatar

That's one view. I lot of people don't find the monarchy unifying or above politics or as a beacon of hope. I get the benefits of having separate ceremonial head of state rather than having those qualities embedded in the political leader, although we've definitely blurred some of that... but don't love it. BUT also don't have a solution to replace it that is any better than what we have. I'm fine with it, just don't like to amplify it.

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Mark L's avatar

Habs are out come visit now?

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Glen Thomson's avatar

You’ve gotta give him points for the “No white smoke” quip.

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Dennis P.'s avatar

I'll see your white smoke and raise you the exchange about Champagne staying at Finance. That was hilarious...

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Aiden Martin's avatar

I know there higher priorities but if he wants to show he can get things done, announce a decision about 24 Sussex Drive. Sell it, renovate it or burn it down. I don't care, but that place is a symbol of our leaders not making decisions because it will upset somebody.

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Demetre Deliyanakis's avatar

I recommend rebuilding 24 Sussex. Hire Brian Baeumler and his wife, Sarah, to oversee the project. It would be a show on HGTV.

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Glen Thomson's avatar

Love It or List It?

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Optimist's avatar

Sure. With issues prioritization on a range from P0 to P5, I'm thinking that maybe we delay our angst to Q1CY27.

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Andrew Stec's avatar

It was such a refreshing press conference. It was so nice to not hear the voice of Trudeau or a seasoned politician. He just sounded like he had shit to do and was ready to get on with it.

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Nobina Robinson's avatar

Did anyone pick up on the fact that in the Q and A with the press, in both languages, it seemed the PM was listening to the questions and actually attempting to offer an authentic answer? no talking points, no platitudes, just business of the day? I find that refreshing and a hopeful sign that the PM is not going to be ‘handled’. His point on ‘not negotiating in public’ was bang on.

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Andrew Stec's avatar

Yes, nothing sells better than authenticity. Carney should fire all the Trudeau comms people and be the nerdy, hard working economist that he is. Canadians will reward him for it.

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Elizabeth Godfrey's avatar

I let myself dream for a moment about a future where MPs stand in the House sans tired and empty talking points.

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Kristie Loo's avatar

The bar set by Trudeau, especially last few years, was so low that I think we need a different benchmark by which to measure our new PM. It is a disservice to him to say he’s better than Trudeau was!

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Krysta's avatar

Thoughtful and open effort on his part. Crossing fingers Fraser, Guilbeault, Champagne, Hajdu, Blair, LeBlanc, Miller and Freedland are not appointed to cabinet. He needs to also clean house in the PMO.

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Hoss's avatar

YES! Clean house with the PMO.......however, unlikely.

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Rosemary's avatar

Good for you, Mr Wells! I don't know if Mr. Carney's decisions about Mr. Poilivre were a result of your sage and gracious advice. Perhaps you're simply a brilliant clairvoyant. In any event, I hope this magnanimous behaviour continues. I'd also like your help in picking my Lotto numbers.

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BH's avatar

Are we really in Canada?!? A thoughtful, well-dressed Prime Minister with a good sense of humour?? Good heavens.

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CF's avatar

Release the documents that the Conservatives were requesting re: the so called Green Slush fund. If everything is OK then great, if not, then he needs to deal with the potential fraud under the past Liberal government. Guillbeault is still in government...I heard a rumor, that he had pocketed a few millions. Did he?

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Optimist's avatar

I heard that Harper had pocketed a few millions from Gaza. Did he?

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CF's avatar

?

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Kristie Loo's avatar

If PM Carney releases those documents I will be truly impressed but unfortunately I don’t think that is going to happen.

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Darcy Hickson's avatar

Perhaps it is foolish to make too big a deal about symbolism but I think it is a very important gesture to ask/invite the King to attend the opening of our new Parliament. (It’s equally impressive that the King accepted on such short notice.)

In my opinion, Justin Trudeau had a standoffish attitude towards the Monarchy. He was all in for the pomp and ceremony and photo ops when in London, but back home he seemed to be a principal actor in the decolonization narrative that trashed our history which relegated the Monarchy to radioactive status. When the King was making plans to travel to Canada soon after his Coronation it seemed more as a tourist than a new Monarch. Such were the times.

Perhaps the Throne Speech will be a turning point in Canada away from the divisive rhetoric of the last few years and an opportunity to see the Monarchy as a neutral entity that watches over everyone with grace and dignity. I sure hope so.

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Elizabeth Godfrey's avatar

Completely agree on the symbolism. I get the sense that those taking issue with the invitation don’t realize who normally delivers the throne speech.

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Darcy Hickson's avatar

Exactly. In Britain the Monarch reads the Throne Speech every time.

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Kristie Loo's avatar

Trump has shown great respect for the monarchy in the past with the late Queen and then supposedly had a very cordial meeting with the Prince of Wales over in Paris. I think the idea of showing Canada’s and our PM’s closeness with the monarchy is not a bad move at all.

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Lizzie's avatar

What a pleasant start, huh? Answering questions, a joke here and there, treating the media with respect, stumbling a bit en Francais (part of the charm). It almost gives one hope?!? Agree with comment above, please don’t kill my buzz by bringing back Trudeau mandarins, give new people and ideas a shot 🙏

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David Lépine's avatar

I am no fan of the British monarchy as head of state of Canada. A relic of our colonial past . But hey ,given Trump's veneration of kingship, how better to send the orange bobblehead a message when he will go to London for his state visit. Canada is not interested in becoming the 51 st state, point final.

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Robert Blair's avatar

If he truly acts as an economist who wants to fix the economics of the country he should jettison the profligate ways of his predecessor and the party. We need responsible and careful governance which is fully aware of the deficit dangers which lie ahead. As well we need cabinet members who are capable and equally scrupulous about public spending and forget all the other nonsense that Trudeau advocated. He can do the job but will he?

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Optimist's avatar

The Conservatives didn't win the election. We are done with this type of nonsense.

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Paul Wells's avatar

I mean, Carney's comments this morning are closer to what Robert Blair calls for than they are to dismissing it contemptuously because "we are done with this type of nonsense."

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Optimist's avatar

I'm rejecting the logic stream of "If he truly acts as an economist who wants to fix the economics of the country he should jettison the profligate ways of his predecessor and the party."

Like it or not, the Trudeau government spent money to keep people out of poverty during the pandemic, and generally, to help keep children and poor families from drowning. That's not profligacy, surely?... that's the government's fundamental job!

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Darcy Hickson's avatar

The lineups at food banks and the monthly anxiety of making rent is a real time issue for a bigger chunk of Canadian life than we are prepared to admit. Noble gestures that fall short due to conflicting public policy must be evaluated for what they are.

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Jason's avatar

Which is why I wonder how tax cuts became the consensus policy. A constructive program review makes much more sense than any reduction in public revenue. That being said I would also welcome a hard look at radically restructuring the tax system towards consumption and land over income and investments.

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Ken Schultz's avatar

Jason, I expect that "... tax cuts became the consensus policy..." simply because all economists - well, except for Jim Stanford and his coterie of leftists - seem to recognize that, a large problem with Canadian life is that by comparison with other countries our taxes are too high.

That is one of the problems that ends up with lack of investment by businesses and capital flight from Canada.

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Eastern Rebellion's avatar

I guess that's why we still have the Carbon Tax and the Capital Gains tax increase; oh wait Mr Carney got rid of those (just like the Conservatives said they would if elected).

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Will Murray's avatar

He started his press conference at the appointed hour! Will wonders never cease?!

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Paul Connor's avatar

"Frankie Bubbles" lmfao bring back editorial cartoons!

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