In the campaign platform, Carney plans to invest in the army and infrastructure while reducing expenses.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled plans to reduce taxes and strengthen defense spending, saying Canada must project economic strength and defend its “sovereignty” from the United States in the midst of relations with its neighbor.
Carney, who became Prime Minister after Justin Trudeau resigned on March 14, presented the campaign plan for his liberal party on Saturday before the legislative elections on April 28.
The vote will determine if Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, obtains the mandate to continue as Prime Minister or if the rival conservatives, led by Pierre Hairyvre, take power.
Carney said he was the best person to resist US President Donald Trump, who opened a ditch in relations with the traditional American ally, imposing heavy prices and even threatening to annex Canada as a 51st American state.
“President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us, and that will never happen,” said Carney on Saturday. “Canada is not America, and this will never be the case, but we have to do more to simply recognize this. We need a plan to face this new reality. ”
‘Invest too little’
Carney’s plan includes investment more in infrastructure and defense while reducing income taxes. He also plans to diversify exchanges to help exporters develop outside the American price market.
“We are in a huge crisis, so we have to be able to do two things: one, hang on to these unnecessary expenses, which we will do, but much more than that, we must be bold and stimulate investments in the economy and seize the incredible opportunities that we have,” said Carney.
The plan would increase defense expenses to exceed a NATO objective by 2% of the gross domestic product by 2030. It includes the purchase of more submarines, drones and icebreaker. Canada will also invest in transatlantic security with European partners “sharing the same ideas,” said Carney.
Hairyvre also called for an increase in defense expenses although he proposed to compensate for him with deep cuts with “waste” foreign aid.
Carney aims to balance the budget within three years by reducing expenses in the federal public service, while protecting health care and pensions.
“The government has spent too much and Canada has invested too little,” he said.
