Imagine a world leader grinning alongside a controversial figure, uttering phrases like 'new world order'—it’s enough to make anyone uneasy. But here’s where it gets controversial: Former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig, who endured over 1,000 days of detention in China, calls Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent trip to China ‘worrisome.’ And this is the part most people miss: Kovrig argues that Carney’s tone and messaging risked appearing submissive, a point that sparks debate about the delicate balance of diplomacy.
This week, Carney became the first Canadian prime minister in eight years to visit China, aiming to reset strained relations and counter U.S. trade pressures. During his trip, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, declaring progress in Canada-China ties as ‘setting up well for the new world order.’ These comments, however, raised eyebrows, including Kovrig’s.
In a candid interview on CTV’s Question Period, Kovrig stated, ‘Diplomacy is essential, but smiling excessively and appearing like a supplicant lacks dignity. The optics could have been handled better.’ He further criticized Carney’s ‘new world order’ remark, calling it ‘deeply unsettling’ and ‘Orwellian,’ especially when surrounded by Chinese officials. ‘It’s a dangerous game,’ Kovrig warned, suggesting it could inadvertently endorse China’s problematic narratives.
Here’s the twist: Just months ago, during the federal election debate, Carney labeled China as Canada’s biggest security threat. Yet, in Beijing, when asked if he still held that view, he sidestepped, saying, ‘The security landscape continues to change.’ This shift in tone has left many questioning Canada’s stance.
Carney’s trip also yielded deals: a memorandum to boost Canadian energy exports to China and reduce barriers to Chinese investment, plus a tariff agreement. Notably, Canada agreed to allow 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) into its market at reduced tariffs, while China lowered tariffs on Canadian canola and agricultural products. This move reverses former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2024 decision to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs, a policy aligned with the U.S. to protect domestic manufacturing from China’s alleged subsidies.
Kovrig, now a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, calls lifting the EV tariffs a ‘mistake,’ arguing it gives China excessive leverage. ‘Canada broke ranks with the U.S., signaling that market access is negotiable under pressure,’ he said. ‘This teaches the Chinese Communist Party that pressure works, and they’ll likely test it again.’
But here’s the question that divides opinions: Is Carney’s pragmatic approach a necessary step to ease tensions, or does it undermine Canada’s long-term strategic interests? U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calls the tariff drop ‘problematic,’ while former President Donald Trump supports Canada’s deal-making. What do you think? Does diplomacy justify such compromises, or is Canada risking too much?
To dive deeper into this debate, watch Michael Kovrig’s full interview on CTV Question Period this Sunday at 11 a.m. ET. With insights from CTV News’ Annie Bergeron-Oliver and Stephanie Ha, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
