Carney won’t enter a formal agreement with NDP to shore up minority government
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OTTAWA — Any plans to shore up his minority government won’t include the NDP.
Speaking to reporters at his first press conference since his election win, Prime Minister Mark Carney said that — unlike his predecessor — he won’t be seeking a supply and confidence agreement with the all-but-obliterated New Democrats to counter government-toppling confidence motions from the opposition.
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“No. Short answer, no.” Carney said when asked by a reporter, adding the word “why?” when asked to elaborate.
“We campaigned on a very clear set of objectives, very clear policies to back those up, and we received the highest number of votes in Canadian history,” he said.
Carney will head to Washington on Tuesday for his first official visit since his Liberals won a minority government, flying south to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“As I’ve stressed repeatedly, our old relationship (with the United States), based on steadily-increasing integration, is over,” he said. “The questions now are how our nations will cooperate in the future, and where, we in Canada, will move on.”
The focus of the chat, he said, will be on immediate trade pressures and the future of any economic relationship between the two nations.
“My government will fight to get the best deal for Canada,” he said. “We will take all the time necessary, but not more, in order to do so.”
Carney also announced that King Charles will deliver the throne speech in the House of Commons on May 27, one day after Parliament resumes following the federal election.
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