If you’re Premier Smith of Alberta, you’re hoping that Mark Carney is merely pretending to be tyrannical to appease his base. When you listen closely to Carney, it’s clear he’s very conscious of the words he uses—it almost sounds like he’s trying to play both sides.
My issue with Mark Carney is this: if he’s naïve enough to think that Christian-Conservatives aren’t paying attention to what he’s saying, then he’s not as intelligent as many assumed.
In Canada, I often point out that we have some of the least business-savvy leftists on the planet. This stems from a lack of entrepreneurship in the country. Many old-stock Canadians have never started a business, nor even considered self-employment—and this has serious consequences. Chief among them: zero financial literacy.
As we age, many of us tend to believe we’re smarter than we are, and cling to ideologies or phrases that resonate with our emotional security blanket. When I read comments from Canadians online, the phrase “ignorance is bliss” often comes to mind.
Most leftists take Carney’s words as gospel, and many of these same Canadians—who have limited or no understanding of economics—base their political opinions entirely on perception.
Let’s be honest: Carney backed down on Justin Trudeau’s tyrannical digital services tax—which I’m not even sure Carney supported in the first place. In politics, sometimes you have to pretend to agree with fools, and Justin Trudeau appointed more than a few incompetent cabinet members—many of whom Carney has rehired.
Perhaps Carney’s strategy is to give these ideologues enough rope, proving to the public that far-left radical socialism doesn’t work. Once that’s clear, he can reposition himself and say: “I tried it their way. Now, it’s time to chart a different course.”
The ESG Paradox in Alberta
What many Albertans may not realize is that numerous corporations in Alberta are already on board with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks—a major win for both Mark Carney and Brookfield Corporation, the investment firm many suspect Carney wants to enrich through his role as Prime Minister.
Because Canadian voters didn’t vet Carney properly, if I were him, I wouldn’t disclose any personal financial holdings either. He didn’t force anyone to vote for him—he won fair and square.
But here’s the irony: these early “losses” could actually work in Carney’s favor.
The U.S., China, and Digital Innovation
The reality is, neither Europe nor Canada are leaders in digital innovation. Most of the digital services now under scrutiny for taxation wouldn’t even exist without the United States. China and the U.S. continue to lead the world in tech innovation.
Now, it’s Mark Carney’s job as Prime Minister to negotiate trade deals. He has to be seen as doing something. But politically, he may be positioning himself to adopt a Jean Chrétien–style austerity stance.
He could easily say: “I tried the Justin Trudeau–NDP model, but it didn’t work. Now I’m focused on restoring the Canadian dream.”
If he plays his cards right, Carney could portray himself as a pragmatic, hardworking Prime Minister, doing everything in his power to get Canada a better deal—while distancing himself from the Trudeau-NDP legacy.
The Liberal Party Has Moved On
Based on leadership race results, Mark Carney defeated Chrystia Freeland with ease, a clear sign that the Liberal Party is ready to turn the page. Time will tell how he navigates the months ahead, but this digital services tax reversal? Not necessarily a loss.
Carney has plenty of people to blame, and in politics, that’s often a strategic advantage.
I’m no fan of Mark Carney, but I am Team Canada, and I hope—for the good of the country—that he succeeds.
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