Single Government Mandate Letter Signals a ‘Unified Mission,’ Carney Says

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks with reporters during an availability following a cabinet retreat on May 21, 2025 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Prime Minister Mark Carney has outlined several key priorities for his cabinet in a new mandate letter, committing his government to lowering living costs and reshaping some of Canada’s key international partnerships.

Carney has issued a single mandate letter for all of his new ministers, a departure from the traditional series of individual assignments.

The letter indicates that every member of his cabinet shares “a unified mission,” the prime minister told reporters during an evening press conference in Ottawa on May 21.

“This one letter outlines the core priorities of Canada’s new government, reflecting the mandate that Canadians have given to us,” he said.

“In particular, the government is charged to build the strongest economy in the G7, an economy that works for everyone, to bring down the cost of living for Canadian families, to keep our country secure and our communities safe, to develop a new economic and security relationship with the United States, and to build new partnerships with reliable allies around the world.”

Carney’s press conference followed a two-day cabinet retreat in Gatineau, Que., which was off-limits to the media. This represented a change from the access allowed to reporters during the tenure of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who permitted his cabinet ministers to field questions from journalists at prior retreats.

The decision to restrict media access at the gathering comes on the heels of multiple ministers delivering contradictory statements over the past week on pipeline policy and the timing of this year’s budget, as well as stating that reducing housing prices would not be the best method for improving home affordability.

Carney’s said at the press conference his mandate letter clearly instructs the ministers to consider how they should manage their individual departments and that his team is “already acting” on his mandate with “urgency and determination.”

The letter says each minister is expected to “identify the key goals and measures of success on which to evaluate the results you will achieve for Canadians.”

Carney’s letter also expresses his expectation that each cabinet committee, guided by a chair, will actively promote and track progress, with oversight from the priorities, planning, and strategy committee, led by the prime minister, and direction from the full cabinet.

Canada-US Relations

The letter listed seven distinct priorities that the government will focus on.

First on the list was the establishment of a new economic and security relationship with the United States and strengthening Canada’s collaboration with reliable trading partners and allies across the globe.

Carney focused heavily on the strained trade relationship between Canada and the United States during his election campaign, saying that he was the leader best positioned to deal with President Donald Trump and his tariffs.

He told reporters during his press conference that Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc is currently in Washington to continue negotiations with members of Trump’s team, but stressed that cooperation with the U.S. doesn’t mean more integration.

“That process of deepening integration is over,” he said. “We are in a position now where we cooperate when necessary, but not necessarily cooperate. So we have other options for that cooperation. We are pursuing those other options. You will see a very different set of partnerships, security and economic, going forward.”

The prime minister said it still makes sense for the markets of the two countries to be entwined in some areas, however.

“There are cases where it is in our interest to be integrated with the U.S. market,” he said. “My entire life, our automobile sector has been integrated with the U.S. The auto pact was struck the year I was born.”

Carney was also questioned about working with the United States on its recently announced “Golden Dome,” a $175 billion missile defence shield that uses a network of sensors and weaponry on Earth and in space to intercept cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, and drones.

He noted that there are certain “elements of our security relationship” where it makes sense to partner with the United States.

“We are conscious that we have an ability, if we so choose, to complete the Golden Dome with investments in partnership,” he said. “And it’s something that we are looking at, and something that has been discussed at a high level.”

Top Priorities

Carney also talked about building “one Canadian economy” by expanding trade between the provinces so Canada would be less reliant on its southern neighbour.

That priority was second on the mandate list. Carney said this goal would be accomplished by removing barriers to interprovincial trade and “identifying and expediting nation-building projects that will connect and transform our country.”

“By Canada Day, our government intends to take action to eliminate all remaining federal barriers to internal trade,” he told reporters.

“On June 2, I will chair a major First Ministers Meeting in Saskatoon to strengthen the partnerships that are needed to build one Canadian economy out of 13, and to catalyze the significant nation building projects that will diversify and strengthen our economy.”

Third on the to-do list is bringing down the cost of living, something that Carney told reporters would be accomplished by July 1 through a tax break.

“We will put more money in Canadians’ pockets with a middle class tax cut that will take effect by Canada Day, saving two income families up to $840 a year,” he said.

Rounding out the top five priorities listed in the letter are making housing more affordable by “catalyzing a modern housing industry,” and making security a priority by strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces, securing the borders, and shoring up law enforcement.

The final two priorities listed were attracting talent from across the globe to help build the economy, while also returning to sustainable immigration levels and cutting government spending with an increased reliance on artificial intelligence.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.