NDP interim leader Don Davies urged the government to “support Cuba in the face of aggressive U.S. imperialism,” arguing this would give heft to Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum that urged middle powers to stand up to intimidation by superpowers. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand did not say whether Canada will speak out against Washington or offer fuel or humanitarian aid.
Following Tuesday’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., the nation’s leaders arrived in the community to pay respects and attend a vigil. NDP interim Leader Don Davies spoke with Power & Politics about what he is experiencing in the community.
Interim NDP Leader Don Davies rightly pointed out on Wednesday that Prime Minister Mark Carney should hold true to his words at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and work with other “middle powers” at a time when longtime superpower allies such as the U.S. become less reliable (or even friendly).
On Thursday, when asked what he thinks of Prime Minister Mark Carney calling himself an environmental leader, NDP interim Leader Don Davies said "I think the facts completely belie that." Carney said he still considers Canada a climate leader after announcing his government would scrap the EV mandate that morning.
Citing Carney’s call for middle powers to work together in his World Economic Forum speech in Davos, NDP leader Don Davies said Canada should instead purchase Gripen fighter jets from the Swedish firm Saab. “The bottom line is that purchasing F-35s from the United States will deepen our military integration with a superpower, not reduce it.”
While Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre cheered, NDP interim leader Don Davies condemned the move, pointing out it is a violation of the UN Charter. The Charter prohibits countries from using “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of political independence of any state.”
“The US attack on Venezuela is neither an act of self defence nor does it have UN Security Council authorization. It is therefore totally illegal,” Davies said in a statement.
Federal NDP Leader Don Davies has condemned the recent US military action in Venezuela as an illegal breach of international law, and has also condemned both the Liberal Government of Canada and the Conservative Party of Canada for failing to speak out strongly against it.
"NDP interim Leader Don Davies tells Power & Politics he's 'not surprised' in some way after MP Michael Ma crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberal caucus. Davies says Carney's 'right-of-centre' policies may attract more Conservative MPs."
The Liberal government has stalled key legislation by failing to build the cross-party cooperation a minority Parliament requires, while Conservatives and the Bloc use their committee majorities to delay and block progress. As Don Davies noted, nothing moves without collaboration — and until the Liberals engage meaningfully and other parties stop playing games, Parliament will continue to struggle to deliver results for Canadians.
Caryn Ceolin is joined by interim federal NDP leader Don Davies to reflect on the past year and how 2026 could define the next era of his party’s politics.