Jen Gerson: Notes from the last meeting at the edge of the world

Canada's G7 summit went as well as could have been expected given the pending apocalypse.

BANFF — All in all, I have to admit, our new Prime Minister's global debut as host of the G7 in Kananaskis this week went as well as could be expected given all of ... this.

And by "this," I mean, you know, just — the state of the world and everyone in it.

I would start by noting that — as far as I could tell watching the events of the G7 unfold from the holds secured for lesser media in nearby Banff — Carney really is a deft diplomatic operator.

Admittedly, I can only go so far with lip reading and body language, but only weeks after winning his first election, this man seems to have secured himself among his peers as The Dean that his predecessor always aspired to be.

My favourite moment of the whole event came about when German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Carney and his wife Diana Fox on Monday for the obligatory photo shoot. As they lined up, Merz wrapped his arm around Carney, and seemed to ask if this show of friendship was appropriate for the photo. Carney smiled and said: "No. This is perfect." At which point, Merz dropped the contact.

"YES," I cried out, as someone who also hates to be touched. "Politely set those professional boundaries, Technocratic Daddy!" This is exactly the kind of WASP energy that has been sorely lacking from Canada's leadership class to date, and I'm genuinely delighted to see it make a return. Carney came across as firm but not unkind, with polished and straightforward manners that silently directed everyone in his orbit without disparaging or undermining anyone.

More of this was also on display during the now-infamous bilateral meeting that took place between Carney and Trump on Monday.

In the summit’s highlight reel, Trump yet again bemoaned the fact that Russia was kicked out of the then-G8, claiming that the war would never have happened if Russia had been allowed to stay in the club. Trump blamed Justin Trudeau for the affront (Stephen Harper was Prime Minister at the time), and conveniently forgot the fact that Vladimir Putin was shown the door for, uh, invading Crimea.

Anyway, as it devolved into a circus Carney exercised his rights as G7 host to shut it down. This was regarded as a power move by some in the international press. But if you watch the exchange closely, you can see that Carney actually signalled his intentions to Trump beforehand, making it seem as if he was doing Trump the favour. The whole display was polished, and, for once, I felt no cringe in my heart when watching a Canadian Prime Minister bob and weave through a tricky scenario.

Of course, diplomacy isn't everything. A talent for interpersonal connection does not ensure results, and here the story of the G7 grows more complicated.

Media both here and abroad has been rife with enigmatic stories promising an imminent trade deal between Canada and the U.S. Most of these have come from the likes of U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, who has assured us that secret negotiations are underway between Carney and Trump directly. (Because, of course, nothing says "super secret negotiations" like the U.S. ambassador chatting about matters on the record to the Globe and Mail.)

There was also an odd little story in the Economist earlier this week suggesting that a "Fortress Can-Am" deal that would give the Americans first rights to Canada's minerals would be signed either at or sometime around the G7 meeting. No doubt, the Americans would have loved to secure that kind of a concession before Canada's big show, in part to chip away at the resolve of other leaders resisting Trump’s Tariff Triangulation.

However, the Economist story was later pulled due to inadequate sourcing — which, I read as: "We got spun by the Americans spouting off their wish list and didn't bother to check with the Canadians to see if any of it was bullshit." Oops!

Trump did secure a trade deal with the U.K., as well as the satisfaction of watching Keir Starmer pick that deal up from the ground — literally — after the mountain winds knocked the papers to Donald Trump's feet. One could see this event as a sad omen for the people of the U.K., but divine warnings are hardly required where Trump is concerned.

The G7 has now come and gone: Trump's promise to secure 90 deals in 90 days is making sad trombone sounds. We all seem to have grown somewhat immune to Trump’s Maximum Chaos approach, and this administration appears to be growing increasingly desperate for a win, or at least the appearance of one. The U.K. aside, the rest of the world isn't falling at Trump's knees in a bid to appease the great orange hegemon.

Donald Trump couldn't stay for the whole summit, seeing as he was urgently whisked away to manage the escalating war between Israel and Iran. Our fine nation cried a single solitary tear to see the back of him.

I cannot speak to what may yet happen abroad in coming days, but it's doubtful Trump himself could have regarded the G7 as a resounding success; indeed, the Truth Social post criticizing French President Emmanuel Macron hinted openly at a mutual contempt. Judging by the other stream-of consciousness thoughts woven between Truth Social ads for MyPillow and sponsored warnings about human brains being filled microplastics, it does seem as if the G7's shared bilateral priorities were not top of mind for the U.S. President anyway.

All that the U.S. seems to have actually gotten out of us this week is a vague commitment to reach some kind trade deal within 30 days.

I'm not thrilled that we've even agreed to this — from where I stand, it seems like the longer we rag the puck, the more likely it is that Washington will be distracted by the next Fresh Hell destined to befall us. Or midterms. Whatever.

However, that 30-day deadline may also be a tool that Team Canada can use to try to chip away at tariffs, find individual concessions, and make the Americans feel as if progress is being made, without drawing too much attention or ire. Weaving and bobbing. Deflecting without undermining.

At a minimum, the fact that the Americans are putting pressure on Canada tells me one thing: We have leverage.

And for the first time in many, many years, I am starting to suspect that we might have a Prime Minister who both recognizes this and knows how to use it.

---

The Line is entirely reader and advertiser funded — no federal subsidy for us! If you value our work, have already subscribed, and still worry about what will happen when the conventional media finishes collapsing, please make a donation today.

---

The Line is Canada’s last, best hope for irreverent commentary. We reject bullshit. We love lively writing. Please consider supporting us by subscribing. Please follow us on social media! Facebook x 2: On The Line Podcast here, and The Line Podcast here. Instagram. Also: TikTok. BlueSky. LinkedIn. Matt’s Twitter. The Line’s Twitter.Jen’s Twitter. Contact us by email: lineeditor@protonmail.com.