Prime Minister Mark Carney declared Sunday that Canada no longer considers itself to have a feminist foreign policy, breaking from a cornerstone doctrine of his Liberal predecessor Justin Trudeau’s government.
Speaking at a press conference during the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Carney acknowledged Canada maintains gender equality as a foreign policy priority but rejected the feminist label that defined the Trudeau era’s international approach.
“Yes we have that aspect to our foreign policy. But I wouldn’t describe our foreign policy as feminist foreign policy,” Carney told reporters when asked whether Canada applies a feminist lens while pursuing trade deals with countries that restrict women’s and LGBTQ+ rights.
The statement is a rhetorical shift for Canada’s international positioning. The Trudeau government announced in 2017 that Canada had adopted a feminist foreign policy, with cabinet ministers repeatedly championing the approach in speeches and international forums.
“Canada is proud to have a feminist foreign policy, not because it looks good, but because it produces tangible and measurable results,” then-Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in a February 2020 speech.
Despite years of promotion, the Trudeau government never published a formal document outlining the policy’s specific framework, though officials conducted extensive internal discussions on the matter.
Carney stressed that Canada remains committed to combating gender-based violence and supporting LGBTQ+ rights internationally. He praised South Africa for including gender-based violence in the G20 joint statement and acknowledged that Canada needs to make progress on the issue domestically.
The timing of Carney’s remarks creates tension within his own government. Just last month, Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee that Canada still applies a feminist lens to foreign aid.
“It’s not just the right thing to do. It’s a smart thing to do,” Sarai told lawmakers last month, contending the approach strengthens economies by increasing female workforce participation.
The change comes as Canada seeks to expand trade relationships and diversify its economic partnerships, including with countries that maintain different approaches to gender equality and human rights.
Carney said Canada will continue to promote equality through dialogue with trading partners, describing discussions about strategies and approaches toward gender equality as part of Canada’s ongoing policy.
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