EDITORIAL: Carney forgets he’s our PM, not Europe’s

PM needs to convene Canada’s Parliament to answer questions while in the midst of a trade war with U.S.

Published Aug 27, 2026  •  Last updated 17 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a press conference in Ottawa, on Aug.22, 2026, after trade talks with the U.S. collapsed. Photo by Dave Chan /AFP via Getty Images

Prime Minister Mark Carney is about to address Parliament while, in his words, we’re “at war” with the United States.

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But it won’t be Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa.

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Instead, it will be the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

Even for a prime minister who calls Canada “the most European of non-European countries,” this is outrageous.

Ignoring the reasonable call from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to reconvene Parliament without delay in the wake of Canada’s collapsed trade talks with the U.S., Carney has instead accepted an invitation from President Roberta Metsola to address the European Parliament on Sept. 17.

The day before, he will attend European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union speech.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Parliament, currently on summer recess, won’t reconvene until Sept. 21.

As Deputy Conservative Leader Melissa Lantsman posted on X:

“Is this for real? … If the Prime Minister truly believes the nation is at war, then the one thing he cannot do is sideline the institution that represents the people paying the price of that war. Industry, businesses and workers. Tariffs hit real payrolls, real supply chains, real families, not abstractions in an Ottawa briefing room.

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“Parliament isn’t a formality to summon when convenient and dismiss when inconvenient.”

Holding a press conference to put his spin on why Canada’s trade talks with the U.S. broke down, as Carney has, is not an address to Parliament, where all Canadians are represented.

Nor is briefing the opposition leaders — which Carney has also done — but without the ability for them to ask questions in real time, in Parliament, fundamental to Canadian democracy.

Lapping up more praise from European leaders who are still giddy about his Davos “middle powers” speech should not be Carney’s priority right now.

These are serious times that call for serious leaders.

The prime minister has had all sorts of opportunities since becoming PM to promote his strategy of increasing diplomatic and economic ties with Europe as he moves Canada away from the U.S.

Indeed, there would be nothing wrong with Carney addressing the European Parliament had he already convened Canada’s Parliament to answer questions and outline his next steps in the trade war.

That he has not shows contempt for Parliament, and Canadians.

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