CBC again platforms Frank McKenna as just “former ambassador.” Same omission. Same pattern
Rosemary Barton Live today's introduction: former ambassador to the United States, former premier of New Brunswick. That is all
No mention that McKenna has been a Brookfield director since 2006 and Chair of Brookfield Corporation since August 2010. No mention that he brought Mark Carney onto the Brookfield board. No mention that he endorsed Carney for Liberal leadership and remains a committed Carney supporter. No Brookfield. No Carney tie. CBC has done this repeatedly. Selective disclosure is always the point
Then listen to what McKenna actually said. It is not Carney’s message
Carney and the government have framed a “trade war,” extreme tail-risk language about possible U.S. military action, and urgency around diversification because the relationship is supposedly broken. McKenna walked most of that back
* On Carney’s New York Times comments about an “extreme tail end risk” of U.S. military action against Canada: McKenna called it banker jargon. He said the two countries are “joined at the hip” on military exercises, NORAD, and intelligence (including personnel embedded in each other’s embassies). Beneath the rhetoric, he said, be realistic — which to him means optimistic
* On trade: “Over 90% of our trade, probably 95% of our trade goes across the border without tariffs.” He repeated that the two countries are each other’s extremely large partners and “it all works.” Rhetoric at the top, “trash talking,” but “life goes on.” He predicted people will eventually laugh about the current tone. That is not a trade-war frame
* On a deal: He said talks are happening, including almost daily communication at the prime minister–president level. A deal is a “logical imperative.” He even flipped USTR Greer’s “no urgency” line: midterms and affordability could mean there is urgency. Get a deal. The pendulum will swing
* On the new U.S. bans taking effect (alcohol, motorcycles, whey, molasses, non-alcoholic beer, etc.): “Reasonably minor.” Parties have “downed their weapons.” Canada probably will not retaliate. Tensions are in a “steady state” and will “escalate downward.” He called that good news
On deepening ties with the EU after it provoked Trump: He supported it as Reagan-style “trust but diversify,” leverage so Canada can approach the U.S. as more of an equal, plus the investment summit catalyzing growth. Functional relationship, not legal entanglement. Prudential. Still: the U.S. will always be the major partner. Keep your eye on that basket.
* McKenna is a Carney man. He is also the Brookfield chair who helped put Carney on that board and who took the public-facing continuity role after Carney left for politics. CBC never says any of that. It gives him the soft “former ambassador” label, lets him soothe the relationship Carney has spent months describing as crisis, and moves on
If the guest is only a retired diplomat offering independent analysis, disclose nothing extra. If he is the long-time Brookfield chair, Carney recruiter, and political ally whose optimistic “get a deal / most trade is already tariff-free / this is not a war” line undercuts the government’s own messaging, say so on air. CBC never does!
@brodiefenlon @RosieBarton
BS like this from Frank McKenna absolutely stinks.
Mark Carney knows exactly what stocks and investments he owns. A blind trust trustee will change very little, if anything
As founder of the Brookfield Global Transition Fund (BGTF) and Brookfield Global Transition Fund II (BGTF II), Carney stands to earn hundreds of millions in carried interest (performance fees) when those funds vest. He knows precisely what those funds are invested in
Frank McKenna is the one who brought Carney onto the Brookfield board and endorsed him for Liberal leadership
Citing U.S. Congress insider trading rules is a complete red herring
CBC's Nichols had an obligation to speak up and call him out! CBC needs to have an expert on to correct McKenna. If they don't, an Ombudsman complaint is most warrant if not just for all the information on the conflicts that McKenna has with Carney that CBC deliberately omits! @brodifenlon
@CBCOmbud