Power & Politics Carney pursues free trade in India, but controversy follows
Feb 27, 2026
Greg McEachern, a former Liberal advisor offering party strategy perspective. Helen Hayes, an AI and online harms policy expert. Adam Chambers, Conservative trade critic focused on economic indicators. Catherine Cullen, CBC journalist who reported from Mark Carney’s India trip. They discuss Carney’s India trade push, security tensions over alleged foreign interference, Canada’s economic outlook and trade leverage, and calls for stronger AI regulation.
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Episode notes
Negotiate Trade With Eyes Wide Open
- Build trade deals with eyes wide open using sector-by-sector risk assessments informed by security agencies.
- Jody Thomas urges combining national security, economic and sectoral departments to quantify risks before agreements.
Be Ready To Act Quietly On Foreign Threats
- Prepare to manage foreign agents discreetly and take targeted actions without public disclosure when necessary.
- Ward Elcock recommends readiness to act administratively or covertly to mitigate threats identified by intelligence.
Carney's Approach Is An Evolution Not A Break
- Jody Thomas frames current policy as an evolution, not a reversal, arguing dialogue resumed while agencies keep raising risks.
- She cites continued RCMP investigation and steps like terrorist listings as evidence of ongoing security work.