Mark Carney: Canadian PM says he is available for call with Donald Trump

New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he is available for a call with US President Donald Trump but would do so “on our terms as a sovereign country”.

Carney was elected leader of the ruling Liberal Party on March 9, automatically becoming prime minister.

Calls with the US president traditionally take place soon afterwards but the two men have yet to speak.

“I’m available for a call but you know, we’re going to talk on our terms as a sovereign country, not as what he pretends we are,” Carney told reporters in Newfoundland on the second day of a general election campaign.

Trump has threatened tariffs on Canadian exports and often muses about Canada becoming part of the United States, comments which Carney says are disrespectful and unhelpful.

Carney also said he assumed Trump was waiting to see the result before calling the winner.

The new PM was visiting a Newfoundland town made famous for welcoming thousands of stranded US travellers in the wake of 9/11.

The Liberal party leader’s visit to the town of Gander took place on the second day of the national election campaign after Carney called a snap vote.

Carney was clear that the blame lays squarely at the feet of US President Donald Trump, saying: “In this crisis caused by the US president and those who are enabling him, we lament a friendship lost.”

“In Gander, Canadians did extraordinary things for Americans when they needed it. Now, we need to do extraordinary things for ourselves,” Carney said.

The town of Gander took in nearly 6,600 passengers who became stuck after the US government closed its airspace during the 9/11 attacks on New York City and Washington.

As flights were diverted to neighbouring airports, the town received 38 planeloads of travellers, with Gander’s locals opening their homes to passengers and providing them with hot meals. More than 200 flights were diverted to Canada.

Hotels were quickly overwhelmed, and passengers also stayed in schools, fire stations and churches, while the local business community chipped in to offer blankets and other goods. Residents donated food, clothes and toys to the passengers and welcomed them in their homes to use their phones and showers.

Carney said that day had become legendary for its display of community spirit – a moment of coming together that inspired the Canadian-made Broadway hit musical “Come from Away.”

“It became yet another example of the unbreakable bond between Canadians and Americans. Because when Americans are in need, Canadians have always shown up,” he said.