Working toward a new global order

Winnipeg South Centre

After a nice break from Ottawa that allowed for time in the riding to catch up with constituents and visit with family, I was ready to get back to Parliament. I brought with me the voices, concerns, and priorities I heard from constituents over the past few months. Time spent at home in the community is grounding, and it sharpens my focus on what matters to folks. I am eager to bring local perspectives to the national table as the chair of the Prairies and North caucus and advancing the issues that matter most to families and communities in the House of Commons and in committee.

Recently, Prime Minister Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that I believe will be regarded as one of the most consequential of our century. I strongly encourage those who have not seen it to take a look. The prime minister highlighted the realities that Canada and the world face today, in light of a rapidly shifting global order, and the role we can, and must, play to remain strong in the face of it.

Some of the key messages from the speech include the following:

“Canadians know that our old, comfortable assumption that our geography and alliance memberships automatically conferred prosperity and security is no longer valid.

Our new approach rests on what Alexander Stubb has termed “values-based realism” – or, to put it another way, we aim to be principled and pragmatic.

Principled in our commitment to fundamental values…and pragmatic in recognizing that progress is often incremental, that interests diverge, that not every partner shares our values. We are engaging broadly, strategically, with open eyes. We actively take on the world as it is, not wait for a world we wish to be.

We are no longer relying on just the strength of our values, but also on the value of our strength.

The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy.

But from the fracture, we can build something better, stronger, and more just.

The powerful have their power. But we have something too – the capacity to stop pretending, to name reality, to build our strength at home, and to act together.

That is Canada’s path. We choose it openly and confidently.

And it is a path wide open to any country willing to take it with us.”

– Prime Minister Mark Carney

In February, I will be travelling to Brussels, Belgium, with some of my colleagues, to participate in the NATO Inter-Parliamentary Assembly. Parliamentarians from across the alliance will come together to discuss shared security challenges and to strengthen trans-Atlantic cooperation.

At a time of rupture in the world, it is essential that we work with our allies and reaffirm our commitment to collective defence and cooperation. I am proud to represent Canada, especially as we significantly increase our defence investments, at this important forum. I look forward to reporting back on what I learned and how these meetings will inform my work at home.

As always, please feel free to reach out to my office at 204-983-1355 or email ben.carr@parl.gc.ca