Carney, Trump, and Canada’s Slow Decline

In the latest episode of Inside Politics with Kevin Klein, the gloves come off as the panel dives deep into Canada’s political inertia, economic drift, and failure to act on urgent national priorities. With guests Royce Koop, political science professor at the University of Manitoba, and veteran columnist Jeff Courrier, this week’s discussion is a wake-up call for anyone concerned about where the country is headed.

The panel kicks off with a pointed review of newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first official trip to Washington to meet with Donald Trump. The verdict? Optics over outcomes.

Carney’s brief remarks were overshadowed by Trump’s 26-minute monologue, which included a jab at Canada’s negotiators and a backhanded claim that he helped Carney win the election. The meeting produced no real progress on tariffs, including a new one targeting Canada’s film industry, an issue already affecting Manitoba productions. “Nothing has changed,” said Courrier. “We’re right where we were before the meeting, only with more talk and fewer results.”

Klein added that recent policy decisions at home are compounding damage to Manitoba's film industry. He highlighted the cancellation of direct flights from Winnipeg to Los Angeles—routes previously supported by now-scrapped subsidies—as another example of the bad policy undercutting local opportunity. “We’re doing more to hurt ourselves than to help ourselves,” Klein said bluntly.

The discussion expanded to Canada’s broader economic performance. From missed mining opportunities to the outmigration of skilled workers, the group pointed to structural problems that go beyond partisan politics. Koop noted that the federal government shows little urgency, even as businesses pull back from investing and major employers leave the country. “We’re not even in a hangover yet,” Koop warned. “We’re still knocking back drinks.”

The group also explored how Canada continues to lose out by failing to pitch itself to investors aggressively. While Trump courts industry and talent with incentives, Canada piles on red tape, taxes, and bureaucracy. “Why are we not out there selling Canada?” Klein asked. “We have clean power, abundant land, and educated people—but we’re not making it easy to invest or grow here.”

Koop delivered one of the episode’s most sobering takeaways: Canadians are electing politicians “to manage our slow decline.” It's a line Klein repeated—and emphasized—as a reality check for voters and business leaders alike.

If you're tired of rehearsed talking points and looking for hard truths, Inside Politics with Kevin Klein delivers a raw, unfiltered take on the news that matters. This isn’t political theatre—it’s the conversation many Canadians have behind closed doors, finally brought into the open.