PM Carney Launches Defence and Trade Plan to Confront U.S. Pressure
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has launched a bold new campaign platform just days before the country heads to the polls on April 28, unveiling plans to strengthen Canada’s military, diversify trade, and cut taxes—all while standing firm against mounting pressure from the United States.
In a speech delivered on April 19, 2025, at Durham College in Whitby, Ontario, Carney described the upcoming vote as a defining moment in Canada’s future, amid what he calls an “enormous crisis” in US-Canada relations.
“President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us—and that will never happen,” said Carney.
“Canada is not America, and it never will be.”
Stronger Defence, Smarter Spending
Carney’s Liberal Party platform promises to raise Canada’s defence budget above the NATO benchmark of 2% of GDP by 2030. This includes:
- New submarines and icebreakers to patrol Arctic and Atlantic waters
- Advanced drones for surveillance and intelligence
- Greater investment in transatlantic security cooperation with Europe
This initiative aligns with NATO commitments while reinforcing Canada’s sovereignty in the face of escalating threats and political friction from the U.S.
Balancing the Books: Cuts and Commitments
Despite the ramp-up in military investment, Carney pledges to balance the federal budget within three years. His fiscal plan includes:
- Income tax cuts for working Canadians
- Expenditure reductions in federal departments and services
- Preserving spending for healthcare and pension programs
Carney emphasized the need to “cut wasteful spending” while strategically investing in Canada’s long-term resilience.
Trade Beyond the U.S.
Central to the Mark Carney Canada defence and trade plan is a strategy to reduce economic reliance on the United States. With President Trump’s administration enacting new tariffs and even making provocative claims about turning Canada into the 51st state, Carney unveiled a Trade Diversification Fund aimed at:
- Assisting exporters in penetrating new global markets
- Incentivizing partnerships with Europe, Asia, and South America
- Supporting supply chain independence from U.S.-based goods
“We need a plan to deal with this new reality,” Carney said. “We need to invest where it counts and hold the line where we must.”
Poilievre’s Competing Vision
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Carney’s chief rival in the 2025 race, has also called for increased defence spending but proposes financing it through deep cuts to foreign aid. While both candidates recognize the need for military investment, their broader fiscal strategies differ sharply.
Election Showdown Looms
Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, assumed office after Justin Trudeau’s resignation on March 14. The April 28 parliamentary elections will determine whether he secures a full mandate or hands power to Poilievre’s Conservatives.
With relations between Ottawa and Washington at their lowest in years, the 2025 Canadian election is shaping up to be not just a domestic contest—but a referendum on how the country should navigate its sovereignty in the shadow of an assertive U.S. presidency.
