On the cusp of a majority, Mark Carney stresses need for national unity
Two days before the federal Liberals are poised to attain a majority in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Mark Carney told party faithful a united Canada that doesn’t succumb to “petty differences” is the country’s best hope in a rapidly changing and more dangerous world.
“We are meeting in the middle of a transformation that will define our country for generations,” Carney told thousands of cheering delegates at the culmination of the Liberal Party of Canada’s three-day national convention at Montreal’s Palais des congrès on Saturday. “The foundations of the international order, the order which Canada helped build and from which we have benefited for so long. That order is crumbling.”
Accused by Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre of engaging in “dirty backroom politics” in order to gain the five opposition members that have crossed over to the Liberals, Carney, who never mentioned the word “majority” in his speech, said now was the time for a new political order.
“This is not the time for politics as usual, for petty differences, for political point scoring,” he said. “United, we will build a Canada strong, a Canada for all.”
Carney entered his first national policy convention riding multiple highs. The Liberals are surfing at about 14 points ahead of the Conservatives in the polls. The party is all but certain to attain a majority following three federal byelections on Monday, giving it the power to pass legislation and plow ahead with its program geared heavily toward increasing infrastructure and defence spending. Five MPs have crossed the floor to join the Liberals since he was elected leader (four Conservatives and one NDP) and others are thinking of following suit, which would cement the majority.
Some of the crossings, however, have raised eyebrows and concerns among Liberal party members and some MPs, particularly that of former Ontario Conservative Marilyn Gladu, who has expressed social conservative viewpoints on abortion and LGBTQ issues not in line with what they call Liberal ideology.
Carney responded the party is a big tent coalition of people who share the Liberal view of building Canada, and says the party has always had members with a wide array of opinions.
“The founding insight of our country is that unity does not require uniformity,” he said. “This is neither a myth nor a miracle, but a series of choices made imperfectly across generations.”
Unity in the face of an altered relationship with the U.S. was a recurring theme for Carney’s speech. He came to the stage after introductions by his wife, Diana Fox Carney, and Tatiana Auguste, who is running for the Liberals in the Terrebonne byelection after her narrow win last April was overturned.
“Our former strengths, that rested on our close ties with the U.S., have become our weaknesses,” Carney said. “Here, we have passed the initial shock of that treason, but we must never forget the lessons. We have to take care of ourselves.”
Analysts had noted the lack of controversial policy issues on debate at this weekend’s convention, an indication members are loathe to risk rocking the boat, as well as Carney’s hold on power. But they added failing to listen to the concerns of the party’s grassroots and its backbench MPs risks causing dissension in the future, they said.
Former leader Justin Trudeau did not attend the convention, but did salute attendees in a video presentation.
Many members said they welcomed the boost Carney had given to the party, as well as his operating style.
“I think the Liberals had lost their true meaning, and Carney brought it back,” said Edward Fernandes of St. Thomas, Ont. “We like to get things done, instead of just talking about it. Carney is not just a politician, he’s an economist and he’s been around the world.”
The convention brought a record 4,500 delegates from across the country, paying $700 each for tickets to attend. For most, it was their first time at a Liberal convention, organizers said.
On the front steps of the conference, there was a loud reminder not everyone is enamoured with Carney and his economic vision. About 200 demonstrators with the Agriculture Union brandishing bullhorns and whistles gathered at the Palais des congrès to protest against projected job cuts to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
“Carney is an accountant. He doesn’t care about the health effects cutting services in food inspection could have,” one protester said. “All he cares about is numbers.”
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