In case you missed it, Shachi Kurl—President of the Angus Reid Institute—penned a must-read piece in The New York Times this week about Canada’s surprising federal election outcome and the challenges now facing new Prime Minister Mark Carney.
You can read it here: The World Is Watching Canada
OK, in the full transparency, the article is gated, but you can read it for free. Just sign up for an NYT account and you can read Shachi’s article and a few more. And as a bonus, signing up unlocks all the great NYT games—Wordle anyone???
But back to the piece: this isn’t just a recap of a dramatic election. It’s a clear-eyed look at how Canada got here, why the world is paying attention, and what’s at stake if the country doesn’t reset its international strategy.
What’s at Stake
Carney’s win is historic four terms for the Liberals, despite trailing badly in the polls earlier in the year. But the party’s comeback doesn’t come with a victory lap. Instead, it comes with a long to-do list: fix fractured global relationships, reassert Canada’s role in international diplomacy, and deliver real relief at home for Canadians squeezed by cost-of-living pressures.
The challenges aren’t abstract. Tariffs from the U.S. are hitting key sectors like auto and agriculture. Relations with China and India are strained to the point of dysfunction. Meanwhile, Canadians are uneasy-nine in ten are worried about a looming recession, according to Angus Reid Institute data.
In the middle of this pressure cooker, Shachi puts it plainly:
“Now the world is watching Canada like some global lab rat, to observe how it will react and respond to what our neighbor to the south throws next.”
Canada’s global image has long been anchored in soft power peacekeeping, diplomacy, moral clarity. But that brand has worn thin. Other countries see less of a global player and more of a polite bystander. And polite won’t cut it anymore.
Three key takeaways from my POV:
– Canada’s Soft Power Has Eroded
Canadians may see themselves as respected peacekeepers, but international perceptions tell a different story. Recent surveys show a growing disconnect between how Canadians view their global role and how others see them.
– Carney Faces Diplomatic Headwinds
With tensions still high between Canada and countries like China and India, Carney inherits a foreign policy mess. His early moves, prioritizing Europe over the U.S. for initial visits hint at a strategy to reset.
– Trade, Tariffs, and Domestic Pressure
Economic anxiety is real. Cost of living concerns dominate at home, while American tariffs and global trade instability loom large. Canadians expect quick action, not just diplomatic niceties.
A Quiet Country, at a Crossroads
What’s clear from Shachi’s piece is that this moment calls for more than diplomatic charm or carefully worded speeches. It calls for clarity, strategy, and a willingness to make hard choices.
Canada can no longer rely on how it used to be seen it will be judged by what it chooses to do next.
You can read the full article here (sign up for free access if you haven’t already). Then pass it along. It’s the kind of read that invites reflection -not just about Canadian politics, but about Canada’s place in the world.
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