LILLEY UNLEASHED: Does Mark Carney want a rupture with the Americans?

Does Mark Carney want a rupture with the Americans?Is being close to them a weakness for us?Or does he want deeper integration?Hi, I'm Brian Lilly, political columnist for the Toronto Sun.Mark Carney sending confusing messages once again.It wasn't that long ago.

It was three weeks ago.He released his forward guidance video, the one where he promised to tell us the news straight.And in that video, he said that being close to the United States used to be a good thing, but now it was making us weaker.

The U .S.has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become our weaknesses.weaknesses that we must correct.

So over the weekend, Mark Carney is here in Toronto.He attends a speech by Barack Obama on Friday night.I thought we were having a rupture with the Americans.Apparently only some Americans and Democrats, especially really progressive ones, they're okay.So he goes to Obama's speech and then on Saturday, he gives his own speech to this very same group.It's a conference that's run by the Center for American Progress.

It's a left -wing group tied up very closely with Barack Obama's leanings within the Democrat Party with Hillary Clinton.This is a left -wing American group that runs a whole political action committee to try and defeat people like Donald Trump.That is who Mark Carney is speaking to when he starts talking about tariffs and then discusses the idea that maybe we'll get deeper integration.It's a long clip, but bear with me here.

With American tariffs, so -called 232 or strategic tariffs on autos, steel, aluminum, forest products, I could go on, but in these so -called strategic areas, those are creating deep challenges for workers and firms in those industries, industries that until now had been highly, highly integrated.with the United States to the benefit of America as well as Canada.And our response begins by reimagining aspects of North American integration.And to be absolutely clear, Canada, like Mexico, like Mexico, Canada remains open to deeper integration, including options for Fortress North America in selected sectors.And to be clear, those offers are on the table.But if that route is not ultimately possible, we will invest heavily in new markets and products.

We'll reward those who build, buy and produce in Canada, and we will build new partnerships abroad.

So just so we're clear, integration with the Americans is bad.It's a weakness, but we want deeper integration in some areas.And if we don't get the deal that we want, then we'll take our ball and go home and get closer to China.All of this is utterly bizarre.Utterly bizarre.Now, look, I understand what he's talking about Fortress North America.

I think it's a good idea.It's something that we should be doing.It's something that Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been championing for a long time.And in certain sectors like the auto sector, I've talked to officials who say, yes, we could have an increased reliance on North American made parts.We could tighten the country of origin rules and everyone would be better off.Are we ready and willing to do that?

At times, we've fought against these things.Mark Carney, though, we don't know what he really wants because he is constantly sending mixed signals.He even started the speech on Saturday at this left -wing American conference.He started it in French, talking about the rupture once again.Carney needs to start being honest with Canadians, upfront with Canadians.What he promised in that four -part speech

video.Tell us what is really going on.Stop negotiating everything in secret.Let us know what you're trying to accomplish so that Canadians know whether to get behind you or say, hold on, we need a change of team captain.Let me know what you think.Drop a comment down below.

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