Mark Carney is bringing in top CEOs to help navigate Canada's rocky relationship with the US
The prime minister is leaning on business leaders as tensions with Washington grow and economic ties face new pressure
At a glance
What matters most
- Mark Carney has assembled a panel of major Canadian business leaders to advise on how to manage the country's economic relationship with the US
- The panel includes Darryl White of Bank of Montreal, Don Lindsay of Teck Resources, and François Poirier of TC Energy
- Carney has said Canada must 'take back control' as US-Canada relations face growing strain
- The move signals a shift toward a more assertive Canadian economic posture under pressure from US policy changes
Across the spectrum
What people are saying
A quick look at how the same story is being framed from different angles.
On the Left
Carney's move makes sense in a moment of growing economic nationalism south of the border. By bringing in business leaders, he's not just planning for trade shifts-he's trying to protect jobs, public services, and climate goals from US policy shocks. The focus should be on building a fairer, greener economy that doesn't depend on American whims.
In the Center
Engaging top executives for strategic advice is a practical step, especially when facing major trade uncertainty. The challenge will be balancing corporate input with broader public interests. If the panel helps Canada diversify its economy without cutting vital ties to the US, it could prove a smart, measured response.
On the Right
It's about time Canada started standing up for itself. For years, Ottawa has followed Washington's lead without pushing back. Carney's call to 'take back control' and his decision to consult real economic builders-CEOs who create jobs and move markets-shows he's finally treating Canada like a sovereign nation, not a junior partner.
Full coverage
What you should know
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is turning to the country's corporate heavyweights to help steer Canada through a period of uncertainty in its relationship with the United States. He's formed a new advisory panel made up of top CEOs, including Bank of Montreal's Darryl White, Teck Resources' Don Lindsay, and TC Energy's François Poirier. Their job: figure out how Canada can protect and advance its economic interests as ties with its largest trading partner grow more complicated.
This isn't just routine consultation. Carney has been vocal in recent days about what he sees as a fundamental shift in the US approach to Canada. In a Sunday interview, he said it was time for Canada to 'take back control' of its economic destiny, arguing that the long-standing partnership with Washington can no longer be counted on as it once was. That message, paired with the creation of this high-level panel, suggests a government preparing for a more unpredictable and possibly adversarial dynamic with the US.
The executives joining the panel lead companies at the heart of Canada's economy-banking, natural resources, and energy infrastructure. Their insights are expected to help shape policies that reduce reliance on American markets, strengthen domestic supply chains, and open new trade pathways abroad. With US trade rhetoric growing more protectionist, Canadian officials are looking for ways to diversify and insulate key industries.
While the panel is advisory and won't make policy directly, its formation sends a clear signal. Carney is signaling that Canada is getting serious about economic resilience. The government is likely weighing everything from expanded trade deals in Asia and Europe to incentives for homegrown innovation and energy projects that don't depend on US approval or demand.
Not everyone agrees with the approach. Some critics worry that leaning too heavily on corporate leaders could tilt policy toward big business at the expense of workers or the environment. Others argue that distancing from the US, even partially, carries serious risks given how deeply intertwined the two economies remain.
Still, the sense in Ottawa is that the status quo isn't sustainable. With US politics driving sharper trade stances and unpredictable policy swings, Canadian leaders feel they need to plan for a future where they can't assume American cooperation. The new panel is one of the clearest signs yet that Carney's government is shifting from reaction to strategy.
How this plays out will depend on both US actions and Canada's ability to build real alternatives. For now, though, the message is clear: Canada is rethinking its place in North America-and who better to help chart that course than the people who run some of its biggest companies?
About this author
Zwely News Staff compiles multi-source reporting into concise, viewpoint-aware coverage for readers who want context without noise.
Source Notes
BMO, Teck, TC Energy CEOs to Advise Carney on US Strategy on New Panel
Prime Minister Mark Carney is turning to some of Canada’s most prominent business executives, including Bank of Montreal’s Darryl White, to give him advice on how to handle Canada’s economic relationship with the US.
Carney says Canada needs to ‘take back control’ with US relations fraught
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday said it is time for his country to “take control” of its future, arguing that Ottawa’s long-standing alliance with the United States has been ruptured beyond repair. “The U.S. has changed, and w...
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