TORONTO – Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized the necessity for Canada to create new institutions and rethink existing ones as a solution to the growing anxieties faced by individuals and governments in the contemporary world. His remarks concluded the 2026 Global Progress Action Summit held in Toronto, which also welcomed prominent figures such as ministers Anita Anand, Melanie Joly, and François-Philippe Champagne, along with notable politicians from the U.S. and Europe, including Pete Buttigieg and Magdalena Andersson.
During his speech, Carney identified the feelings of powerlessness that many experience related to the affordability crisis, immigration issues, and the implications of artificial intelligence, which have cultivated what he termed a "politics of grievance" that is fostering divisions globally. He argued that these emerging challenges necessitate innovative responses, echoing points he raised at the World Economic Forum in Davos. There, he posited that the current international rules-based order has become ineffective, particularly for middle-power nations that must form new coalitions to address these complex issues.
Quoting Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan, Carney noted that the present "age of anxiety" results from attempting to solve today's problems with outdated tools. He acknowledged that Canada does not possess all the solutions but highlighted the government's initiatives aimed at fostering modern responses, such as pursuing new trade agreements in Europe and beyond amid U.S. tariffs and establishing the Build Canada Homes agency to facilitate the construction of thousands of homes on federally owned land.
Carney articulated that the government's strategy includes accepting challenging realities, including the utilization of all energy sources, specifically mentioning the inclusion of natural gas, while simultaneously working toward cleaner and more affordable energy systems. He drew attention to the newly-announced sovereign wealth fund by the Liberal government, which aims to finance nation-building projects while providing profits to regular Canadians who choose to invest.
"We have to take risks again," Carney declared, emphasizing that in times of crisis, "fortune favors the bold." He underscored the urgency of responding to the current political landscape, which he argued is influenced by politicians focused on destruction and dismantling established systems. Carney asserted that progressives must counter these tendencies through construction and innovation rather than fear or nostalgia for a bygone era that is unlikely to return. "We can’t match them by being timid imitations of them. We can’t answer them by pining for an old order that’s not going to return," he stated, insisting that the only viable response is through affirmative action and building a better future.
The Global Progress Action Summit, which included a private event featuring former U.S. President Barack Obama on May 8, aimed to bring together progressive leaders and thinkers. The event was organized by the think tanks Canada 2020 and the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
