Heurtel: Mark Carney is sending a clear message to the Americans that Canada will not be bullied

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]We're honored to be the first non-European country as part of the EU's SAFE initiative. We would observe that in the last year we have struck 18 billion dollars worth of critical minerals deals across 20 of the world's leading critical minerals. We're working with European partners across the technology stack from hardware, cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence and space. We are an energy superpower, third largest oil producer, fourth largest natural gas, largest hydro renewable base. We're committed to addressing climate change while providing reliable affordable energy to our citizens and partners. It's my strong personal view that as the international order will be rebuilt, but it will be rebuilt out of Europe.

[00:00:46]So, that is Prime Minister Mark Carney, first Canadian Prime Minister by the way ever to visit Armenia, leaving and addressing I guess those member nations that attended. David Martel is standing by, former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister, political analyst now and David, this whole idea, this came up like a week ago or two weeks ago of Canada, the EU. Clearly this step by Mark Carney to show up there for this conference seems to almost be an indication that Canada is getting closer and closer to accepting an invitation to be part of the EU. Is that even possible?

[00:01:16]Well, I I mean anything is possible, but Minister Anita Anand, who is accompanying the Prime Minister on on this trip, was very clear over the weekend saying that that's not the goal.

[00:01:34]I think what the Prime Minister is doing and and Europe is definitely letting him do it, is working and collaborating. And as you said, these conferences these types of EU conferences happen twice a year and it's the first time that a leader, the head of well, the the leader of a government that is not a member of the EU has been invited to this conference specifically and was able to speak.

[00:02:07]It just shows again, we've been talking about this regularly over the past few days and weeks, that the Prime Minister and he's he's staying right in line with what he said in the Davos speech.

[00:02:20]The world order has changed and we're not coming back to the old ways.

[00:02:27]And so, there is the United States, there's China, and whoever is orbiting around those two powers, and there is Europe.

[00:02:38]And right now Canada's plan and everything that's been done over the last few weeks and months during this the Carney administration has been to diversify the economy. The sovereign wealth fund is one of the latest examples of that. And what what he's doing is continuing to develop along with Europe this block, which is is going to be a block that is going to be right on par with both the Chinese and US economies. And and I think what Mark Carney is doing is justified and sending a clear message to the Trump administration that Canada will not be bullied and that if we cannot find a way to strike a deal that is advantageous for both Canada and the US in the upcoming trade talks, then you know, we we are developing other options and that includes Europe and that includes the Pacific Rim.

[00:03:37]You know, I just I'm going to move on. I just want to point out again this idea of a new international order, which you know, post-Davos this is what we're starting to hear on a pretty regular basis from the Prime Minister. It's obviously resonating, right, in Europe.

[00:03:50]We have a a move the other day where the President Trump said they're pulling 5,000 American troops out of Germany.

[00:03:55]So, while the US is busy fighting with Europe, we're busy cosying up to Europe, right? We're we're cosying up, but it's a it's a win-win for both. It's trying to find a win-win. And and and Canada there there's a lot of of of runway to develop both both Europe's economy and Canada's economy through different partnerships. Look, Europe is solidifying. I mean, ever since the Ukraine war and what Trump has done, what has it it done? It has strengthened NATO. I mean, countries have joined NATO. European countries that have stayed neutral for decades has now have now joined NATO. Europe is stronger than ever.

[00:04:37]The failure of Brexit shows even the UK >> [laughter] >> wishes it were it was back with with Europe and is is trying to basically find a way to to to at least get closer and be as close as possible to Europe without coming back. But the idea is that for Canada there's a lot of positives in diversifying our economy.

[00:05:02]We've been too dependent, overly dependent on the US economy. And it makes sense for everyone and it's in everybody's interest to develop further.

[00:05:11]So, let me bring this back home. Played a clip on the news by Christine Fréchette.

[00:05:15]I guess this doesn't come as a big surprise. We talked about this originally what you know, we got a federal break as far as gas tax is concerned. The story couple weeks ago before the welcome tax announcement by her and you know, the other announcements which had to do with you know, the small medium size businesses. There has been no cut in the provincial gas tax. So, David, it would have seemed to me that was a pretty easy gimme. Today she basically came out and said it's not going to happen and she's considering I think maybe somehow cutting what you pay when you register your vehicle, something that's gone up virtually every single year, I think. What do you make of this? Well, I I think there are two two main reasons for this. One, I I I think contrary to the federal government, we don't have a lot of financial breathing room in Quebec. And I don't think Eric Girard projected a gas tax cut and I think he he actually needs the money. And I think Quebec needs the money much more than the federal government does. And and and two, the other reason and I think that's more important, it had because there's always this argument, right?

[00:06:28]Some economists are saying, you know, if you if you bring down the gas tax, well, the oil companies are going to take advantage of it and ultimately it may not all get to the pockets of the consumer.

[00:06:40]>> Okay. And so, the idea here with the very little time Christine Fréchette has before the election, she needs measures that will impact people right now. And everybody is getting their renewal notices for their for their registration. If they get a credit or if it's a reimbursement or reduction, I think that is a much more concrete way of showing, "Hey, I'm I'm I'm feeling your pain and I'm doing something real about it." Okay, interesting take. I want to ask you finally, PSPP, so Parti Québécois Mondain, I guess he's not going to be talking about, you know, separation or referendum very much. So, instead today he shifts his focus to say he would like to reduce homelessness here Right.

[00:07:30]>> 50% by the year 2030. He's going to make it the major social priority of his first year of a Parti Québécois government. David, is this a shift of focus look there not here?

[00:07:41]Yes, it is. And it's first of all, he didn't say how magically he was going to do that. He was very general in in in the interview and in his post. Because what it what it shows is that he has finally understood that Quebecers are sick and tired of hearing about a referendum and talk about independence.

[00:08:04]They don't want to hear about that. And when I say that, I always want to specify a majority of Francophones, not Quebecers overall, a majority of Francophones are saying clearly we're in the 60% 60% and up saying, "We don't want to hear about a referendum and we're against independence." And so, what the polling is showing with with Paul Saint-Pierre Plamondon just barely, you know, hovering, he's around 30 31% 32. He's not growing right now. He he's been stalled basically since last fall.

[00:08:41]And he had a an uptick during the Pablo Rodriguez scandal, but that as we all know was temporary, of course.

[00:08:49]So, he now has to talk about issues that connect directly with everyday lives of Quebecers and talking about issues that connect also with writings that either he currently holds or he is gunning for in the next election. Now, the problem with all of that is that he isn't used to that. He doesn't have a lot of expertise on these issues. So, for example, the homeless, besides you know, giving a very ambitious goal, he hasn't said anything about how he's going to do it, where he's going to find the money to do it. And anytime you talk about homelessness, you're going to have to talk about health and social services because as we know, he throws things, "Oh, I'm going to copy the Houston model." Well, if you're going to copy the Houston model, Aaron, I know something about this. First of all, you're talking about building thousands of homes for these people for for the unhoused. And that doesn't happen automatically as our mayor and our Prime Minister and our Premier know.

[00:09:55]>> Right. And so, the you have to find the money for that.

[00:09:59]And also, you're talking about health and social services because a lot of the people who are unhoused have other health problems such as uh some sort of uh chemical dependence or other. And so, you're you're you're you're talking about a lot of different issues.

[00:10:20]Plante has not has not talked about this. He has no expertise in this. So, what he's trying to show that he's going to have to connect with Quebecers on their priorities. But, it's a very small step and no details.

[00:10:37]You know, I if I can I I want to just to close David. You know, when we talk about the homeless situation, we know this is part of the mayor's, you know, agenda, right? This is part of her platform. We know that was one of her first steps cleaning up some of these areas as well. Um you know, I asked her listeners and I'm going to come back and do this in just a moment or so. One of the key parts in her platform was in getting the city clean or, you know, and cleanliness was sort of a big factor for her. Now, the city, as I said, needs to lead by example here. They've done that to a degree, but obviously I don't think enough that people have now decided, "Oh, look what the city's doing. I'm going to follow suit." In fact, we found out today in a La Presse article, there've been more tickets handed out this year for over litter and garbage than there were in all of 2024. When I say lead by example, uh can the city do that? Do you think they can make this change?

[00:11:22]They should and they can. But, look, there was Remember there was a big announcement. It was at the end of March, right? Uh where this this there's going to be this whole new offensive on cleaning up the city. Do you sense it? I'm out I'm downtown. I live downtown. I I walk every day. I'm out two two and a half hours with my dog at least every day.

[00:11:45]Uh you don't sense that it's getting better.

[00:11:48]And I'm talking about garbage cans overflowing and you you you see you don't sense that there are more, you know, uh city workers and there's an effort and there's something happening.

[00:11:59]And and a lot of media have been covering this since the March announcement and you don't sense it.

[00:12:04]But, on the other on the other hand, what is true though and other major cities, if you look at Toronto, you look at New York City, you could go down the list, the we are not doing nearly enough to implement and sanction not the the the disrespect of our bylaws. And and people have a responsibility and we have to hold the people accountable as well.

[00:12:30]I mean, some places are just filthy all the time and building owners have to take responsibility as well.

[00:12:38]And that's what I'm going to come back to. David, thank you very much.

[00:12:40]Appreciate it. Have a good night. The newest tracks. Let's go. New music. And the next big thing.

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