Carney advised to push back on Trump in April call if provoked: memo

Federal officials prepared the internal memo to guide Carney's conversation with Trump following the Liberal party's April 28 election victory.

Prime Minister Mark Carney was counselled to push back during an April call with Donald Trump if the U.S. president revived his complaints about border security, fentanyl from Canada or low defence spending, a newly released memo shows.

Federal officials prepared the internal memo to guide Carney’s conversation with Trump following the Liberal party’s April 28 election victory.

A concise Canadian summary of the April 29 call, released that day, says Trump congratulated Carney and that the leaders agreed on the importance of working together — as independent, sovereign nations — for their mutual betterment.

“To that end, the leaders agreed to meet in person in the near future,” reads Canada’s official readout from the meeting.

The memo drafted for Carney, obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act, suggested the prime minister remind Trump that the two countries had agreed to negotiate a new economic and security partnership after the election.

Carney was advised to tell Trump he wanted to move ahead with those discussions before the June G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta.

“Canada has shown itself to be a good faith partner and I hope we can take the opportunity to discuss our mutual trade relationship,” the memo said.

Officials also suggested Carney ask Trump about his “main objectives” for a new agreement with Canada, and express confidence the “first phase of our discussions will yield mutually advantageous outcomes.”