On February 28, 2026, a war begins in the Middle East and, the same day, from Mumbai, Mark Carney publishes a statement to say that Iran is the main source of instability in the region, that Canada supports the United States and that civilians must be protected.
On March 3, from Sydney, he publishes another statement. This time, he supports the strikes, but with regret, because it is a failure of the international order and because the United States and Israel acted without consulting Canada.
On March 5, from Canberra, he explains that one can never categorically exclude a military participation. Canada stands by its allies. He will always defend Canadians.
Three cities. Five days. Four positions.
Between each declaration, advisors meet, the press secretary summons the journalists, a room is reserved in a hotel or an embassy, the microphones are set up, the cameras are put in place, simultaneous translation is organized, and then the communiqué goes out on the wire.
The war continues at exactly the same pace as before the communiqué, and nobody in Washington called Ottawa before striking, just as Tel Aviv never asked Canada’s opinion before deciding anything.
The press room fills up anyway, the prepared text is read, journalists ask a few questions, the communiqué circulates on the wire, and then the next day another communiqué appears, with one more nuance.
In January, at Davos, Mark Carney had said that the old international system was dead and that countries without real autonomy had no options left. The room applauded. Journalists picked up the phrase.
Five weeks later a war begins, a press room is summoned, the translators work, the cameras roll, the communiqué goes out on the wire, and the war continues.
If nobody in this war is waiting for Canada’s communiqué, why does the press room still need to be summoned ?
