Canada in January 2026: the most important developments in politics
Canadian politics in January 2026 was dominated by an open exchange between Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Carney said the world order was in the "midst of a rupture" and, answering Trump's claim that Canada lives because of the United States, said "Canada doesn't live because of the United States." Trump used his own speech to repeat that the US should own Greenland and to criticize Canada and Europe, and Carney left the forum without meeting him. Trump had also shared an AI-generated map showing Greenland and Canada as US territory. Carney said on 17 January that he planned to accept Trump's invitation to join a "Board of Peace" for Gaza, and Ottawa said on 20 January it would not pay the $1 billion to join. On 23 January Trump withdrew Canada's invitation.
Carney also made a state visit to China from 14 January, after nearly a decade of tense relations. He met Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping, and on 16 January the two countries announced a new strategic partnership. Carney said relations with China were becoming more predictable than those with the United States, and Canada sought trade talks with Beijing. The EU warned Canada over its pursuit of closer ties with China, and Keir Starmer visited China a few days after Carney.
On 29 January Canadian officials warned Washington to respect Canada's sovereignty after Alberta separatists met Trump administration officials. British Columbia Premier David Eby called the separatists' actions "treason", while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defended their right to meet foreign officials; she had earlier called the idea of Alberta joining the US "not interesting". Canada said the future of Greenland should be decided by Copenhagen and Nuuk, backed Denmark and announced it would open a consulate in Greenland. In Quebec, Premier François Legault announced his resignation ahead of a provincial election in which separatist parties are projected to win. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will run in a different riding and faces a leadership test.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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