Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials HomeFP CommentOpinion: Carney should reject top-down big government and pivot to sound policyThe prime minister needs to spend more time in the country and stop trying to micro-manage the economyLast updated 45 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Prime Minister Mark Carney takes part in a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on June 25. Photo by Blair Gable/PostmediaCanadian governments of all stripes should pay attention to the words of the great Milton Friedman: “A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom ahead of equality will get a high degree of both.”Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.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.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.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.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 Carney government, which turned an elected minority government into a questionable majority, should not assume it has a mandate in support of its New World Order in which Canada moves away from the United States and towards Europe and China. In spite of the differences between the Carney and Trump governments, one hopes common sense will prevail (even if it entails changes in leadership) so we can restore the historical and positive relationship with our neighbour, friend and ally to the south.That process can begin in earnest on July 1 when both governments begin to review the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Strengthening ties with the U.S., which receives approximately 70 per cent of Canada’s exports, must be a top priority.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.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 Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againNor is there a mandate for a further consolidation of power in the Prime Minister’s Office, especially when headed by (according to his book) a top-down stakeholder capitalist with open contempt for Parliament (from which he was absent for more than 100 days in his first year) and its processes. This contempt is demonstrated by his government’s heretofore signature legislation, the Building Canada Act, which established the “Major Projects Office” to fast-track approval for projects the prime minister and his cabinet deem to be in the “national interest.” In other words, rather than reform the regulations and cut the red tape that discourage vital infrastructure projects, including pipelines, Carney chose to grant himself and his cabinet new powers to reject or bless projects based on their personal preferences.More frighteningly, under a Liberal order of the day and without reasonable opportunity for parliamentary debate and amendments, Parliament recently passed multiple bills — some of which included elements of censorship, reductions in privacy rights (in the case of government surveillance) and threats to religious teaching and expression (Bill C-9) that should alarm the entire electorate.On the campaign trail, Carney promised to break from the Trudeau-era policies that left our economy sputtering, the federal government deeply in debt, and the country divided to the point where separatist sentiment now exists in multiple provinces. But instead, he’s doubled down on the big-government, big-spending, top-down approach that has made Canada a less attractive place to invest and a more expensive place to live and work.It’s time for all Canadians to wake up and be aware. It’s time for Prime Minister Carney and his cabinet to return home and focus on fighting recession and restoring global investor confidence in the great opportunities Canada could enjoy under a different policy regime. But first this government must learn that sound policy and prosperity are unequivocally linked.Peter Brown is the founder of Canaccord Genuity. 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.