Mark Carney says ‘Who cares? 41,000 laid-off workers do

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Does Mark Carney care about talking to Donald Trump? now that 1,000 workers have received layoff notices at Algoma Steel?

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Just two weeks ago, the Prime Minister attended the G20 meeting in South Africa and was asked when he last spoke to US President Donald Trump. Given the tariffs facing Canadian industry and the state of trade negotiations, this was a pressing issue, but Carney met it with open disdain.

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“Who cares? I mean, it's a detail. It's a detail.” – said Carney. “I talked to him. I'll talk to him again when it matters.”

It mattered then; this is more important now.

Tariffs destroyed more than 41,000 manufacturing jobs

Just before Christmas, Algoma Steel announced it would lay off 1,000 people, more than a third of its workforce. When Carney made his comments, I made it clear that people working in the steel, aluminum, auto and other affected industries would be concerned that he would talk to Trump and try to get the tariffs eliminated or at least reduced.

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In addition to Algoma Steel, we saw General Motors cut the third shift at its plant. assembly plant in Oshawa as a result of tariffs. Holsag Furniture in Lindsay, Ontario, dismissal of more than 130 people and moved its operations to the US in March in response to the tariffs.

These stories are being repeated in communities large and small across the country because of tariffs. In Ontario alone, it is estimated that 40,000 manufacturing jobs were lost this year due to tariff violations.

With Algoma Steel you get 41,000 lost jobs and 41,000 reasons given that Mark Carney should be worried about talking to Trump to find a deal.

Trade talks stalled due to Ottawa's misunderstanding of strategy

Recent talking points from liberals include the idea that not negotiating with Trump is a great strategy. However, we don't talk to Trump because he interrupted us, and was that in the past? advertisement from Doug Ford or some other stimulus is not of particular importance.

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Trying to argue that Carney has a great strategy by not talking to Trump is ridiculous, but that's where we are.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre had the opportunity to ask Carney about the conversation with Trump and the job losses, but he declined. Of course, he questioned the government on the issue on Monday, but Carney was not there, and on Tuesday he gave a speech asking for an emergency debate on the issue, which was denied.

Given the opportunity to ask Carney about his inability to reach a trade deal with Trump, deal with 50 percent tariffs on our steel and aluminum, 35 percent tariffs on our softwood lumber, and 25 percent tariffs on cars and auto parts, Poilievre seized the opportunity.

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Poilievre's questions on Tuesday were largely an attempt to score cheap political points. The worst part is that Carney plays along with this and tries to score cheap points for himself in return.

Meanwhile, real people are suffering, real people are losing their jobs, and our Prime Minister is using his ongoing fight with Trump for political gain.

Carney is clear that his fight against Trump worries some voters, mostly older Canadians and retirees who don't fear being laid off. Voters over 55 make up Carney's current base, and they are the part of the electorate most likely to be concerned about Trump and the tariffs.

The longer he continues to fight Trump, the better for the Liberal Party.

On Friday, Carney will be in Washington with Trump for the World Cup draw, which he should use as an opportunity to bend the president's ear. Trump personally clearly likes Carney, and that's something the prime minister should look at to try to get talks back on track.

Thousands of families are facing layoffs or facing the prospect; they need a Prime Minister who cares enough about them to speak up for them.

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