Acid test for Carney: if he’s faced with a bad deal from Trump, is he prepared to say no?

Every Canadian knows that the country needs a deal with our most important trading partner. But when does negotiating with Donald Trump equal surrendering to him?

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office on May 6, 2025. With a reputation for being a pragmatist rather than a partisan player, and with his opponents weakened with probes of their own, Carney could be around for a while. But there are also no blank cheques in politics, writes Michael Harris.Photograph courtesy of the White House/Daniel Torok

Opinion

BY MICHAEL HARRIS

May 11, 2026

HALIFAX—Something odd is happening in Canada’s national politics.

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