Political leaders and policy experts from around the world gathered in Toronto on Saturday for the 2026 Global Progress Action Summit.
The summit, co-hosted by Canada 2020 and the Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAPAF), is a day-long event focused on economic security, democracy and global co-operation, according to a release by the CAPAF.
It featured Prime Minister Mark Carney alongside several federal cabinet ministers, including Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
Former U.S. president Barack Obama was also in attendance.
Joly started off the summit Saturday morning, hosting a discussion with former U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg on rebuilding trust through economic security.
During the discussion, Joly spoke about the global impact of U.S. policies.
“What is going on in the U.S. doesn’t stay in the U.S.,” she said. “It has an impact across the world.”
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“If the U.S. democracy is not working well, it has an impact on all democracies,” she added.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand developed the idea during a panel on the ever-changing Canada-U.S. relations.
“Canadians and Americans on both sides of the border want to see our countries grow together for decades and decades to come,” Anand said.
“Trade diversification is a means of de-risking in this moment where there is a complete breakdown of the global trading order,” she said.
Speaking later in the day, Carney addressed Canada’s economic relationship with the United States amid ongoing tariffs on sectors including steel, aluminum and autos.
“We still have the best trade deal with the United States,” Carney said. “Over 85 per cent of our goods move tariff-free across the border.”
He said Canada remains open to “deeper integration” with the U.S., including what he described as a possible “Fortress North America” approach in select sectors.
However, Carney said Canada is also prepared to expand elsewhere if deeper integration is not possible.
“If that route is not ultimately possible, we will invest heavily in new markets and products,” he said. “We will reward those who build, buy and produce in Canada.”
Carney also spoke about artificial intelligence and Canada’s upcoming AI strategy, saying Canadians want technology that is “safe and sovereign” and creates economic opportunities while strengthening public services.
In closing remarks, Carney called for bold economic action amid global uncertainty.
“We have to take risks again,” he said. “Because in a crisis, fortune favors the bold.”
U.S. President Donald Trump did not attend the summit.
Other sessions throughout the day focused on foreign affairs, artificial intelligence, digital transformation and democratic institutions, according to the organizers.
Meanwhile, some supporters are saying the summit highlights international collaboration on shared economic and political challenges.
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