Winnipeggers react to PM Carney’s Davos speech

It’s been two days since Prime Minister Mark Carney’s impassioned speech that made waves at the World Economic Forum, as the prime minister made a clear statement to President Trump that Canada is exploring alternative trade options. 

CityNews spoke to Winnipegers about Carney’s strategy in navigating trade with the United States.

“It was a good speech, but it was a speech, we need to see what sort of policies follow from this,” said Bryan Peeler, political science professor, University of Manitoba.

“No, I don’t think (Carney) any good at it, I think he should have stayed home,” said one Winnipegger.

Another said, “You gotta try to have diplomacy with your neighbour but obviously that doesn’t feel like something they’re necessarily looking for, I was kind of moved by his speech.”

“I don’t think Trump does very well for us either, but he’s not wrong when he says that we rely on them, we really do, and until we actually get something happening with other countries, have our export markets open up, we really don’t have a choice.”

Peeler says he thinks Carney’s strategy opening dialogue with China, and pushing partnerships with other middle powers is sound, given how volatile and unpredictable talks with the U.S. have been.

 “I think these are the right things to do because as we’ve seen over the last several months that, deals that Mr. Trump negotiates, aren’t going to stay in place when he changes his mind, and he changes his mind quite often,” Peeler said.

“There really is no deal to be had (with the U.S.),” Peeler adds.

While some Winnipeggers say they feel Carney’s speech had a resounding impact on the where Canada stands globally, others want action over words.

 “We’ll have to see how these things play out in the future, it’s always what happens with policy afterwards,” Peeler said.