OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is in London this week, his second trip to the U.K. since March and one of 13 international visits he has made since taking office.
Carney has already travelled five times to Europe, twice to the U.S., and once to Mexico since becoming prime minister on March 14.
The busy travel schedule has drawn criticism from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. On social media, Poilievre accused Carney of flying around the world on a “taxpayer-funded jet” while Canadians struggle with inflation and high housing costs.
But international experts argue Carney is doing his job by strengthening Canada’s trade ties, especially as the U.S. becomes less reliable under President Donald Trump.
“Carney’s challenge is simple — to show the world that Canada is open for business,” said Fen Hampson, a professor at Carleton University. “He’s trying to diversify trade, encourage investment, and make sure Canada has strong global connections.”
Canada’s high commissioner to the U.K., Ralph Goodale, also defended the trip, saying it’s important for Carney to meet face-to-face with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Still, Carney’s travel means he has been in the House of Commons less often. Since Parliament resumed last week, he has only attended three question periods. In the spring, he attended nine.
Carney’s international visits have included meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, King Charles, NATO leaders, and Ukrainian officials. He has also signed agreements with Europe and Mexico on trade, defence, and infrastructure.
He recently attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York and is expected at several major global summits this fall, including ASEAN in Malaysia, APEC in South Korea, and the G20 in South Africa.
Hampson said Carney’s travels are not “political tourism” but part of a serious effort to build relationships abroad while still working on domestic issues.
“When it comes to building trade and trust, you can’t just show up once,” he said. “You have to go back, again and again, to prove Canada is serious.”
