Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaDid Mark Carney plant a tree that was still in a plastic pot? How social media got it wrongThe sapling Carney planted in Ireland looked like it was still encased in plastic, but a closer look told a different storyLast updated 17 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Mark Carney plants an oak tree during a visit to Aughagower, in County Mayo, the home county of his Irish grandparents, as part of his visit to Ireland, on June 14, 2026. Photo by Andrew Downes /GettyIt was a tempest in a tree pot. On Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney was accused of planting a tree still in its protective plastic pot while in Ireland.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe occasion was a photo op in County Mayo on the second day of his visit to the Republic.During his Mayo visit, Carney and his wife, Diana Fox Carney, attended Mass at the local church and visited a graveyard where some of his relatives are buried. He then planted an Irish oak tree in the cemetery, joking that he had a previous “career as a gardener.” A detail of the photo showing Mark Carney planting an oak tree. Photo by Andrew Downes /GettyCarney informed the crowd of onlookers that it was important to add a bit of soil to the hole before putting in the sapling, which he did before handing the shovel to his wife, drawing laughter from the crowd. He feigned exhaustion on finishing the job, which got a round of applause.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againHowever, news organizations and other commentators were quick to point out that the tree still seemed to be in its plastic pot when it went in the ground.Who plants a tree while they are still in their plastic container?A fake environmentalist.Mark Carney hasn't planted a single tree in his life. pic.twitter.com/7u8RqeK3R6— Kirk Lubimov (@KirkLubimov) June 15, 2026Shuv Majumdar, a Conservative MP for the riding of Calgary Heritage, remarked on social media: “So after he’s done this ‘major project,’ someone will have to go back and dig up the tree, remove the plastic pot, then do it right the next time. That tracks.”Closer examination of the video and images, however, shows that the sapling was not in a plastic pot (nor a biodegradable one, as several online responses suggested) but was merely pot-shaped from having previously been inside one. A closeup image shows roots poking out of the compacted dirt around the tree. A detail of the photo showing Mark Carney planting an oak tree. Photo by Andrew Downes /GettyHowever, some commentators also pointed out the irony of Carney planting a tree after his government announced it would “wind down” Canada’s two billion trees program.“As announced in the Federal Fall Budget of 2025, the Government of Canada will wind down the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program,” a recent press release said. “While existing agreements will be honoured, the program is no longer accepting applications.”Others noted that Carney flew from Dublin to County Mayo, a 45-minute flight that would have taken just a few hours on the road and would have involved far fewer CO2 emissions.National Post has reached out to Majumdar for further comment.So after he’s done this “major project,” someone will have to go back and dig up the tree, remove the plastic pot, then do it right the next time. That tracks. pic.twitter.com/okLaBi3hvo— Shuv Majumdar (@shuvmajumdar) June 15, 2026Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.