Carney’s globe-spanning journey schedule attracts each criticism and reward

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is again in London this week — his second go to to the British capital amongst 13 overseas visits since March — and his globe-trotting schedule is drawing each criticism and reward.

Carney has taken 5 journeys to Europe, two to the United States and one to Mexico since he was sworn into workplace on March 14.

The journey schedule is drawing fireplace from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who took to social media to needle the prime minister.

In one current submit, Poilievre mentioned Carney was “back on his taxpayer-funded jet” to attend a gathering with U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In one other, he mentioned issues like inflation and housing affordability are getting worse and Carney “prances around abroad while Canadians pay the price at home.”

One worldwide affairs professional, nonetheless, mentioned Carney seems to be doing the job he was elected to do by working to shore up a number of commerce ties because the United States turns into an more and more unreliable actor below President Donald Trump.

“Carney’s challenge is a very simple one — to send a message to the rest of the world that Canada is back open for business,” mentioned Fen Hampson, a professor of worldwide affairs at Carleton University.

“He’s doing exactly what he should be doing, which is the wholesale marketing of Canada to diversify sources of trade — both exports and imports — but also to encourage investment in the country.”

Canada’s excessive commissioner within the U.Okay. defended the go to on Friday, saying it is crucial for the 2 leaders to “sit down in the same room together and talk to each other” as they assess the progress made within the bilateral relationship.

“In a relationship like this one between Canada and the U.K., having those two prime ministers physically in the same room and talking directly to each other is an extremely important thing,” Ralph Goodale instructed reporters in London.

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party mentioned they’d no additional remark past Poilievre’s social media posts.

A spokesperson for Carney didn’t instantly reply when requested if Carney is hanging the correct steadiness between worldwide journey and his duties within the House of Commons.

Question interval is the place opposition events publicly maintain the federal government to account between elections. Carney has taken half in simply three query durations for the reason that House of Commons resumed final Monday.

In the spring sitting following the election, Carney participated in 9 query durations.