Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government will shepherd the most “consequential” legislation in decades in the next sitting. During an address to his caucus on Friday, he promised to push legislation on social media safety. Canada can lead the world in digital safeguards, including on AI, he said. He also promised movement on subsidies for young people getting into the skilled trades and to expand trade on a series of industrial exports. Speaking to a group of elected Liberal parliamentarians who repeatedly broke into applause, Carney described “a new, powerful, confident and united Canada.” He also spoke about his government’s plan to decrease approval times for large projects, repeating a mantra “one project, one review, one year.” On the heels of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the investment summit in Toronto and the promise of a deal to draw closer to the EU, Carney said, “in the midst of a rupture we have to move forward.” He also discussed deteriorated trade talks with the U.S. “Last month, we made the right decision to suspend our negotiations with the United States,” he said. “They asked too much. We wouldn’t give it.” He repeated Canada will return to the negotiating table “in good faith” when the Americans are ready to reach a deal that “respects our sovereignty.” More details to come… Previous Canadian Press article continues below. Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to address his Liberal caucus in Ottawa today. The Liberal caucus retreat comes just before the fall sitting of the House of Commons gets underway on Monday. Among the Liberals’ first bills of the sitting will be legislation to enact the fuel excise tax extension that Carney announced on Sept. 2. On Thursday, Carney returned from Strasbourg, France, where he looked to secure a stronger alliance with Europe focused primarily on trade, defence and people-to-people ties — the latest move in his campaign to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday she wants Canada to become the first “associate member” of the European Union. In a historic address to the European Parliament on Thursday, Carney said he welcomes von der Leyen’s ambition to see Canada become the first associate member of the EU. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2026. With files from Sarah Ritchie The Canadian Press
