Carney’s catastrophic first week: Eight broken promises and blunders

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first week in office is already being defined by broken promises, confused messaging, and a cabinet filled with Trudeau-era veterans.

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Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first week in office is already being defined by broken promises, confused messaging, and a cabinet filled with Trudeau-era veterans repeating the same policies despite campaigning on “change.”

Here’s a list of contradictions, backtracking, and head-scratching announcements made by Carney and his cabinet in their first week in office:

No budget this year, despite promises of a serious economic plan

Carney drastically shifted expectations when his finance minister announced there would be no federal budget in 2025, only a fall economic update. Both world wars, the 2008 financial crisis, and the Great Depression didn’t stop past federal governments from tabling a budget.

“Parliament has already been shut down for nearly half a year. Now, in the face of serious economic threats, the Liberals don’t intend to present a budget this year. There is no roadmap forward, no economic vision, and no willingness to lead. This is not the leadership Mark Carney promised—it’s abandonment,” said Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Carney continues to mimic U.S. President Donald Trump

Despite positioning himself as an anti-Trump candidate, Carney has copied U.S. President Donald Trump on many occasions. While campaigning at a poutine shop, he copied Trump’s previous campaign tactic used at McDonald's. Carney even said he was “just like Trump.”

The copycat work continued when Carney posted another video akin to him signing an Executive Order, a power held by U.S. presidents but not prime ministers.

Carney has also introduced a new cabinet structure, including 10 secretaries of state — a distinctly American format.

Recycled half of Trudeau’s old cabinet

Though Carney promised a fresh start for the Liberals, 18 of Carney’s 28 ministers served under Justin Trudeau in some form, including Chrystia Freeland, Sean Fraser, and Melanie Joly.

Some of the ministers were given new files and even promotions despite previously bungling their files. Poilievre explained how some ministers, like Sean Fraser, had mastered the art of “failing upwards.”

Appointed a housing minister who oversaw Vancouver’s 179% price spike

Carney named former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson housing minister despite his controversial record. During his tenure as mayor of Vancouver, housing prices rose in the city by 179 per cent. The increase saw houses increase from an average price of $827,335 in December 2008 to $2,313,611 by November 2018.

During his first week as housing minister, Robertson said that Canadian house prices don’t need to decrease.

Cabinet minister says no to new pipelines

Carney campaigned on a pro-energy platform, but his cabinet’s rhetoric suggests otherwise.

Despite being shuffled out of the environment file, Canadian Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault kept poking his nose in the energy industry. He made various claims, such as saying investors don’t want pipelines, that oil demand would peak in two years, and that pipelines are built by companies, not the government, despite his government spending over six times more than what private investors were willing to pay for Trans Mountain Expansion.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called him out and asked his successor to “disavow” his comments.

Gave key cabinet role to fired CBC journalist and art dealer

Evan Solomon, Carney’s former art dealer who was fired from CBC for pocketing $300,000 in commissions from politically connected clients, was appointed minister of AI and digital innovation. Solomon has no professional background in the field. He previously worked with Carney’s wife.

Installed a gun control hardliner who once called the Charter a ‘barrier’

Carney appointed long-time anti-firearm activist Nathalie Provost as a secretary of state. Provost previously described the Charter as an obstacle to gun control and resigned from a federal panel in 2019 for not going far enough on confiscation.

Anti-Israel statements from minister

The anti-Israel stance of Canada’s federal government, seen under former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s watch, might not be over, with one of the recycled ministers from his cabinet already taking a stance against Israel.

Canada’s new foreign affairs minister, Anita Anand, claimed that 50,000 people have died due to aggression against the Palestinian people, calling for a ceasefire.

“Canada’s new foreign affairs minister, Anita Anand, blames all the deaths on Israel. Let me clear this up for her,” said Brian Lilley. “Hamas started the war. They refuse to surrender. They refuse to release all the hostages. Hamas also steals the aid for their fighters.”