Prime Minister Mark Carney takes off Wednesday for summits in Asia and Ireland where he’ll look to advance trade and security ties.
asserted
he → take → ties
His travels will take him to four countries and put him on the ground as high-stakes diplomacy takes place between the United States, China and Russia.
Vina Nadjibulla, co-founder of the Centre for Strategic Statecraft, said the trip is Canada’s chance to build on new agreements and partnerships it has signed with countries around the world.
asserted
it → take → world
“We’re now entering a much more consequential phase of actually implementing and delivering on all of these agreements, and sustaining the momentum,” she said.
asserted
she → enter → momentum
“When Prime Minister Carney speaks about diversifying our relationships, it’s not just about Europe.”
asserted
it → speak → Europe
The prime minister is set to depart for Dublin shortly after the Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa.
asserted
minister → set → Ottawa
Carney will attend the European Political Community summit in Dublin, set for Nov. 12.
asserted
Carney → attend → Nov.
For the second time, Canada will be the only non-European country represented at the table.
asserted
Canada → represent → table
Carney joined the group’s last meeting in Armenia in May.
uncertain
Carney → join → May
The EPC summits have taken place roughly every six months since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
asserted
summits → take → 2022
The informal meetings are aimed at discussing strategic co-operation in politics, security and infrastructure.
asserted
meetings → aim → politics
Carney and European Union leaders have floated Canada becoming an “associate member” of the EU since the last summit — a title they have yet to define.
asserted
they → float → summit
After Dublin, Carney will cross both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to visit Manila, where the Philippines is hosting Canada as a guest at the Nov. 15–18 summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
asserted
Philippines → cross → Nations
ASEAN is a bloc of 11 countries that focuses on trade, regional peace and international norms.
asserted
that → focus → trade
Canada is set to finalize negotiations on two trade deals while Carney is in Manila, one with the ASEAN bloc and another bilateral deal with the Philippines.
asserted
Carney → set → Philippines
He could even sign one of them while he’s there.
uncertain
he → sign → them
The prime minister has a meeting scheduled for Saturday with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and will address ASEAN leaders on Sunday.
asserted
minister → have → Sunday
Queen’s University professor Stéphanie Martel, who studies Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific, said the visit will help shape the Indo-Pacific strategy the Trudeau government released four years ago.
asserted
government → study → strategy
That strategy focused on making Ottawa a relevant partner in the region after years of sporadic engagement.
asserted
Ottawa → focus → engagement
“It’s becoming kind of a cliché to refer to Canada as this fairweather friend,” she said.
asserted
she → become → friend
Martel said Carney has focused on trade and maritime defence but less on local concerns about climate change resilience and gender-inclusive militaries.
asserted
Carney → say → resilience
But the overall engagement and the ability of Canada to be seen as this serious, comprehensive contributor to the region is still up for debate,” she said.
asserted
she → see → debate
In the Philippines, Carney will be joined by Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and Gender Minister Rechie Valdez, who is of Filipino origin.
asserted
who → join → origin
Cambodia
Carney will then visit the Francophonie summit in Cambodia set for Nov. 14 to 16.
asserted
Carney → visit → 16
He’s expected to meet with leaders from Africa and other continents while in the capital Phnom Penh.
asserted
He → expect → capital
Canada is hosting the next Francophonie summit in 2028 in the Ottawa area.
asserted
Canada → host → area
Carney is expected to use the gathering to advance Canada’s strategic autonomy and protect the role of French in the growing digital economy.
asserted
Carney → expect → economy
Francophonie members will elect their next leader in Cambodia and Ottawa says it is staying neutral to avoid affecting the next summit.
asserted
it → elect → summit
- Alberta government facing scrutiny over bourbon distilleries tour in Kentucky
-
asserted
government → face → Kentucky
Rural N.S. patients worry as medical ride program comes to an end
-
asserted
program → worry → end
Critics slam Ford government appointment of York region chair as ‘conflict of interest’
asserted
Critics → slam → interest
New Surrey City Council sets 16 priorities including the SkyTrain expansion
On Sunday, the prime minister is set to address CEOs at the FrancoTech innovation event at the summit.
asserted
minister → set → summit
On Monday, he is set to give plenary remarks.
asserted
he → set → remarks
Dominique Caouette, Indo-Pacific studies chair at the University of Montreal’s political science department, said the Francophonie summit is an opportunity for Canada and Quebec to advance economic interests.
“The Francophonie could also serve as a platform for Mr. Carney toward the middle powers.
uncertain
Francophonie → say → powers
There are several that are part of the Francophonie.
asserted
that → be → Francophonie
It’s another space where Canada could play an influential role,” Caouette said in a French-language interview.
uncertain
Caouette → ’ → interview
The summit will feature both Carney and Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who was elected on a sovereigntist mandate aimed at pushing back on Ottawa.
asserted
who → feature → Ottawa
Caouette said he doesn’t expect the two to clash.
asserted
two → say → ?
“It’s not in the Canadian or Quebec tradition to air one’s dirty laundry in public,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → public
Carney will be joined in Cambodia by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and her parliamentary secretary Mona Fortier.
asserted
Carney → join → Anand
Before his arrival, Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour will lead Canada’s delegation at the summit.
asserted
Arbour → lead → summit
…and 14 more, not listed.
The Aporia
