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PM’s Speeches in Davos and Beijing Can’t Be Viewed in Isolation

PM’s Speeches in Davos and Beijing Can’t Be Viewed in Isolation
Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 20, 2026. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick
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Commentary
Although Prime Minister Mark Carney’s address in Davos was polished, ambitious, and fluent, it cannot be read in isolation from his remarks in China last week, where he spoke approvingly of a coming “new world order.” Those words are not neutral. They carry a long and troubling history, particularly when invoked in Beijing, where the phrase is often used to justify the erosion of liberal norms in favour of hierarchy, managed markets, and political control.
Bryan Brulotte
Bryan Brulotte
Author
Bryan Brulotte is chairman of Sterling-Trust, a private equity firm based in Ottawa. He holds a doctorate in business and brings over four decades of experience spanning military service and senior roles in the private and public sectors.