OTTAWA — Mark Carney departed for his first foreign trip on Sunday, set to visit France and the U.K., with an additional stop in Iqaluit, Nvt., during a whirlwind three-day jaunt.
The aim of the trip is to strengthen ties with France and the U.K. and reaffirm Canada's Arctic sovereignty before returning on Tuesday.
Carney is expected to talk about security and economic and trade ties while in Europe, where he will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Carney will also meet with King Charles while in the U.K.
Ahead of the trip, Carney posted on the X platform that he had spoken with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
"Canada and Europe are strong, reliable partners," Carney wrote. "In a shifting global economy, that matters more than ever. We’re ready to secure new transatlantic business opportunities together."
On Sunday, Carney met with Quebec Premier François Legault after marching in the Montreal St. Patrick's Day parade.
"François Legault and I are focused on protecting the Québec economy — and building it for a stronger future," Carney said.
For his part, Legault said he raised the issue of defending key sectors of the Quebec economy in upcoming negotiations with the United States, notably supply management. He also repeated that the federal government should significantly reduce the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec to protect the future of the French language.
Carney has no plan yet to visit the United States, though he said he looks forward to speaking with U.S. President Donald Trump at the appropriate time.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2024.
The Canadian Press
