TORONTO — While Prime Minister Mark Carney left a meeting in Washington without any trade deal breakthroughs, he’s still garnering support from the leaders of some of Canada’s biggest companies for his approach.
Speaking at a conference in Toronto hosted by BMO and Eurasia Group, the chief executives of Enbridge Inc. and CPKC Ltd., along with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, said Carney’s focus on how the U.S. benefits from having trade issues settled with Canada is better than a more antagonistic tack.
CPKC chief executive Keith Creel said the way Carney has lowered the rhetoric and tone of talks, and his taking a more pragmatic approach to trade discussions, is helping establish a better relationship than the one former prime minister Justin Trudeau had.
“I’m actually encouraged as of late,” said Creel.
“I think there’s a lot of respect that’s been established between Prime Minister Carney and President Trump, which I think is important, critically important to the deal-making that gets done.”
He said there’s room for both Canada and the U.S. to push to make their countries stronger, and that the efforts can be complimentary.
Enbridge Inc. chief executive Greg Ebel also emphasized the mutual benefit that can come from better connection, especially on the energy side, as both countries look to boost national security through energy and economic security.
“The ability to have win-win solutions are really there if we act,” said Ebel.
“So you’ve got a lot of agreement, but just slightly different tactics, maybe significantly different tactics to be able to achieve it, but at least going in the same direction for the same goal has to be somewhat positive.”
Smith also welcomed Carney’s approach, saying Trump won’t be swayed by how tariffs are bad for Canada, only what aligns with his interests.
“His love language is, let me tell you how I can make America even greater. Let me tell you how Canada being able to provide you raw materials or critical minerals or energy and natural gas, allows you to have energy dominance in the world,” said Smith.
“I’m beginning to see that Prime Minister Carney is speaking in those terms.”
She said that she understands Ontario Premier Doug Ford has a difference perspective, as industries in the province such as steel and automobiles are more directly threatened by current tariffs. But she thinks a more conciliatory tack will work better than threats.
“I never thought ‘elbows up’ was going to get us to a deal with this particular president, and I think that [Carney] is beginning to see that the relationship, and putting some of the credits in the bank account, is going to get us a lot further.”
Ford, also speaking at the summit, continued to advocate for a more aggressive approach, threatening to cut off energy and resource exports if the U.S. doesn’t relent on industry-crushing tariffs.
“If we can’t get a deal, we have to hit them back twice as hard,” he said.
He said that he doesn’t want to make such moves, but that he’s not going to sit back as Trump’s policies hit key sectors.
“If he wants to destroy our auto sector and destroy our steel sector, and for Quebec the aluminum sector, there won’t be a grain of critical minerals going south of the border, there won’t be one ounce of energy coming from Ontario.”
Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Tuesday that substantial progress was made in the White House talks this week, and that the two sides are working to “quickly land deals” on steel, aluminum and energy.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2025.
Companies in this story: (TSX:BMO; TSX:ENB; TSX:CP)
Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press
