Mark Carney says ‘Who cares?’ comment ‘poor choice of words’

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Mark Carney dropped to his elbows on Tuesday, calling his controversial comments about trade talks with US as “poor choice of words”.

The Prime Minister faced pointed questions from the Opposition in the House of Commons for his response: “Who cares?” when a CBC reporter asked him on Sunday if he had spoken to US President Donald Trump in an attempt to mend the countries' frayed economic relationship.

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“Before the election, he promised to 'put your elbows up,'” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday during question period via The Canadian Press. “After that it was, 'Who cares?' Before the election, he said the tariffs were an “existential crisis.” He now says they are not a pressing problem.

“Why is the prime minister before the election so different from the one after?”

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The Prime Minister said the remark was a 'mistake'

This prompted Carney to apologize for his comments: which he did on Sunday during the G20 leaders' meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“On election night … I made a promise to Canadians,” Carney said during question period Tuesday. “When I make a mistake, I admit it. It was a poor choice of words about a serious problem.”

Carney also said he plans to announce more federal aid this week for sectors hit by the tariffs.

The incident was sparked by Carney appearing to lash out Sunday at a follow-up question from CBC's Ashley Burke, who had previously asked the prime minister on the sidelines of the G20 conference whether Trump had “returned your calls or texts” without receiving a response.

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

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Tense times as trade talks still on hold

Trump abruptly ended trade talks with Canada last month in response to an ad paid for by the Ontario government that included footage of former US President Ronald Reagan opposes tariffs.

Carney later apologized to Trump for the ad, but trade talks still on hold.

The Prime Minister is considering traveling to Washington next week for the World Cup.

— With files from The Canadian Press.

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