Carney tells Liberals that 'unity does not mean uniformity' in closing convention speech
MONTREAL – Prime Minister Mark Carney’s message to his party is that differences are a strength, as the Liberals stand on the cusp of a majority government in the House of Commons, with help from floor crossers from other political parties.
“Canada’s founding insight is that unity does not require uniformity,” he said during a closing speech at the Liberal national convention in Montreal on Saturday afternoon.
“Pragmatic decisions that have become a moral conviction — that our differences are a strength to be nurtured, not a risk to be managed.”
Carney’s government has attracted five floor crossers from opposition parties in recent months, Lori Idlout from the NDP, and four Conservatives including Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma, Matt Jeneroux and more recently, Marilyn Gladu.
Gladu’s addition to the Liberal party caused some stir and surprise among some of the more progressive members of caucus, given her policy track record as a social conservative on issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
Carney told reporters that Gladu will vote with the government on those social issues.
Carney’s speech also pointed to past Liberal prime ministers like Wilfrid Laurier, Louis St. Laurent, Lester Pearson, Pierre Trudeau, Jean Chretien, Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau, who were all strong unifiers in their own way.
“And so, when each generation has chosen to widen the circle,” he said. “We Liberals stand in that tradition.”
The trade war with the United States also loomed large over Carney’s remarks, with the prime minister pointing to his government’s economic agenda.
Carney said a strong economy is essential to his party’s mission of building a just society.
The prime minister was met with a standing applause when he said that a just society is anchored in a woman’s right to choose and allowing people can love who they want to love.
The speech highlighted his government’s defence industrial strategy, military spending, infrastructure investments, major projects office and efforts to diversify international trade.
The convention wraps up as Liberal delegates spent Saturday morning debating and voting on several non-binding policy resolutions.
Two resolutions related to setting age restrictions on social media and artificial chat bots were adopted, following debate.
Grassroots members of the party also debated a resolution on restricting use of the notwithstanding clause, by invoking disallowance on any provincial legislation that proactively invokes the clause before court challenges are exhausted.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser has already shut down any prospect of using disallowance.
Notably, Public Works and Procurement Minister and Québec Lieutenant Joël Lightbound as well as Quebec MP Patricia Lattanzio took the mic during the plenary session to voice their opposition to the resolution, which was ultimately defeated.
The general mood at this weekend’s convention was one of optimism and excitement, given the party’s prospect of holding a majority government again.
The Liberals currently hold 171 seats in the House of Commons, but with three byelections scheduled for Monday, the party is expected to gain a slim majority.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has accused Carney of gaining a majority through “dirty backroom deals.”
Speaking to the thousands of Liberal members and delegates waiving Canadian flags and signs donning his name, Carney echoed the message during his speech in Davos back in January, while also taking aim at those who are “still in denial” of a changing world.
“This is not the time for politics as usual,” he said. “If we stand still during this rupture, we will surrender our future to others.”
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