Like Céline Dion, Mark Carney is basking in France's warm embrace — but the hard work starts now - Toronto Star
Canada's PM dazzled the European Parliament, writes Heather Scoffield, but turning political goodwill into trade gains and jobs will demand much more than good intentions.
Prime Minister Mark Carney dazzled the European Parliament, writes Heather Scoffield, but turning political goodwill into trade gains and jobs will demand much more than good intentions.
Heather Scoffield is the CEO of the Canadian Tax Observatory, a new research-oriented think-tank. She has been writing about Canadian economic policy for 30 years.
PARIS—Prime Minister Mark Carney is having a Celine Dion moment.
Like the ultra-famous Quebec singer, he landed in France to open arms (at least by geopolitical standards), prompting a standing ovation in the European Parliament by merely showing up.
Even as Carney was wowing Strasbourg with his pitch to build stronger ties between Europe and Canada, the warm and fuzzies spilled over to the five-star hotel in Paris where Dion has been staying to launch her against-all-odds comeback tour.
That Dion chose France for her comeback from a debilitating neurological disorder is natural. She loves France and they love her back.
A small crowd had been waiting for hours in the hopes of catching a glimpse of — or even a conversation with — one of Canada’s best-known cultural exports, and when they weren’t bursting into song, they spared a thought or two for her home country.
“Canadians have lots to give. That’s the image we have. Even if it’s cold there, they are warm,” said Laetitia Laisné, on vacation from Normandy and carving out some time for celebrity sighting. “I only hear good things.”
She, like the others lining the barricades, feels personally close to Dion because of her music, and that gives her a curiosity about the singer’s home country.
“We all know Celine Dion. She has done a lot for Canada because she is close to people. It’s done a lot for the image.”
On the other side of the country, Carney, too, was in his happy place, that political arena where he knows everyone in the room, values align and trade barriers are the same as they’ve ever been.
In his plan to dilute our dependence on the U.S., diversify our trade and investment with other countries and enhance Canada’s security, it probably doesn’t feel any better than right now.
We now have a solid framework of intentions that has culminated over the course of the last few weeks: improved Employment Insurance benefits for those who get shafted by U.S. tariffs: many billions of dollars pledged by institutional investors to build up Canada’s infrastructure; two major tax measures designed to ease the way for big business; a loud signal that Canada and the European Union will deepen ties; and more legislation on its way to streamline business processes.
These are key pillars of a government-driven plan, but they now require substantial determination and resources to live up to their billing.
Sewing a sturdier safety net, for one, will take more than enhanced EI. Since U.S. President Donald Trump aims to cripple some of Canada’s key industries, Canadian workers will also need retraining and access to new opportunities.
And Trump is not the only force buffeting our workforce. Artificial intelligence and aging are also driving structural changes that have yet to be appreciated. While expanding EI will help some parts of the workforce in the short run, the bigger issues loom.
