The Bloc Québécois has emerged as a vocal critic of Prime Minister Mark Carney's approach to Canadian trade, particularly his efforts to reduce reliance on the United States. This shift in focus comes after the April federal election, where the party, traditionally less engaged in international trade policy, has taken a strong stance against Carney's plans.

Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet has been particularly outspoken. In September, he criticized Carney for not engaging enough with Washington, emphasizing the importance of Canada’s “privileged and close relationship” with the U.S. Recently, Blanchet responded to Carney's dismissive remark, “who cares?” regarding his communication with U.S. President Donald Trump. Blanchet stated that such comments do not aid in restoring essential relations with the United States.

Polls indicate that Bloc supporters harbor significant skepticism towards the U.S. A recent survey revealed that 47% of Bloc voters view the U.S. as an “enemy country.” Despite this sentiment, the Bloc is advocating for a more amicable approach towards the U.S. due to the practical reality that Canada cannot easily replace the U.S. market.

Following the collapse of U.S.-Canada trade negotiations in late October, Carney has maintained his strategy of seeking alternative markets for Canadian goods. His “who cares?” comment was made during a press briefing at the G20 summit, where he indicated he would engage with Trump when it was necessary. In a speech promoting the 2025 federal budget, Carney described Canada’s proximity to the U.S. as a “vulnerability,” suggesting that past strengths have turned into weaknesses.

Carney has traveled extensively to promote trade diversification, visiting regions with minimal commercial ties to Canada. Notably, he led a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, the first by a Canadian prime minister in 40 years. In 2023, the Middle East and Africa accounted for only 1.6% of Canadian merchandise exports, while the U.S. represented 77.1%.

Many of Carney's recent agreements are non-binding statements of intent rather than formal trade deals. For example, a joint declaration with Germany included commitments to encourage joint research and development but lacked concrete trade agreements. Similarly, a Mexico-Canada Action Plan announced in September contained vague statements about trade facilitation without specific commitments.

Even if these agreements are successful, they would only marginally impact Canada’s trade landscape compared to the U.S. For instance, a potential agreement with South Africa, which purchased $582 million in Canadian exports in 2024, would only replace a fraction of the trade volume with the U.S. In contrast, Canadian exports to the U.S. in the first quarter of 2025 were significantly higher.

Historically, Canadian leaders have attempted to diversify trade away from the U.S. However, these efforts have often faltered due to the economic advantages of trading with the U.S. A report from CIBC highlighted that Canada’s dependence on the U.S. market is unparalleled among developed nations. While countries like Austria rely on Germany for about one-third of their exports, Canada sends approximately 75% of its exports to the U.S.

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem recently stated that Canada “can’t replace 75% of our trade with the United States.” This sentiment aligns with the Bloc Québécois’ ongoing criticism of Carney’s trade strategy. Blanchet emphasized the need to acknowledge reality and restore relations with the U.S., regardless of political preferences.

In other news, during a recent NDP leadership debate, candidate Avi Lewis controversially described resource development as a form of violence against Indigenous women, linking it to the presence of construction crews in rural areas. His comments reflect ongoing tensions surrounding resource projects in Canada.