KING CITY — Liberal leader Mark Carney has denied finding from a Privy Council report, authored by federal employees, that warns of a dire future for Canadians within 15 years.
“People may start to hunt, fish and forage on public lands and waterways without reference to regulations,” said the report, which Tory leader Pierre Poilievre referenced at multiple events this week.
A reporter at a press conference in King City, ON, asked Carney about his “sharpened attacks” against Tory leader Pierre Poilievre, and how he will govern Conservative voters should he win the election.
“We’ve seen the Conservative leader also sharpen his attacks,” said the reporter, “suggesting the Liberals don’t want people to own a house, they believe a Liberal future means foraging for food —”
“Is that right? Wow,” interjected Carney.
“If you do win Monday, what will you do to reach out to all the millions of people who voted for Pierre Poilievre?” continued the reporter.
“Well they won’t have to forage for food,” replied Carney.
“I’m running to be prime minister of the country. I’m doing everything I can to be as transparent as I can.”
“The prime minister is the prime minister of the country, that works for every Canadian, all the time, regardless of who they voted for, or whether they voted.”
“It’s a tremendous responsibility, and it’s one I view in its totality.”
“Absolutely, we’ll work for all Canadians.”
The report in question, quietly released April 19, predicts Canada could face such hard times in 15 years that workers will flee the country, and the poor will resort to illegal hunting for food.
“It is plausible,” said the Foresight Brief by Policy Horizons Canada, a Privy Council think tank, entitled Future Lives: Social Mobility In Question, and dated January 2025.
“Many people in Canada assume ‘following the rules’ and ‘doing the right thing’ will lead to a better life. However things are changing. Wealth inequality is rising. It is already common for children to be less upwardly mobile than their parents.”
“This Foresight Brief paints a picture of Canada in 2040 where upward social mobility is uncommon. Hardly anyone believes they can build a better life for themselves or their children in this future.”
“However many worry about sliding down the social order which has become much more common. This scenario is neither the desired nor the preferred future. However Policy Horizons research suggests it is plausible.”
“Canada may become a less attractive destination for migrants if it is seen as a country where upward mobility is uncommon. More people in Canada including recent immigrants may emigrate to jurisdictions where they perceive social mobility and higher standards of living are easier to attain.”
“People may start to hunt, fish and forage on public lands and waterways without reference to regulations. Small-scale agriculture could increase. Governments may come to seem irrelevant if they cannot enforce basic regulations or if people increasingly rely on grassroots solutions to meeting basic needs.”
