Jersey’s Chief Minister has written to Canada’s newly-appointed Prime Minister to congratulate him on becoming the 24th leader of the country.
Mark Carney, a former governor of both the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada, was sworn in on Friday after winning the leadership race for the country’s Liberal Party with 85.9% of the vote.
In his letter, Deputy Lyndon Farnham spoke about the “longstanding historical bond” between Jersey and Canada.
Deputy Farnham referred to discussions held during Canadian High Commissioner Ralph Goodale’s visit to the Island in 2023.
Those conversations, he wrote, focused on transforming the long-standing relationship into a “modern and flourishing partnership.”
The Chief Minister also pointed to investment links between the two jurisdictions, saying that Canadian firms like RBC and Canaccord Genuity drive “significant investment flows” between Jersey and Canada.
“There is undoubtedly more we can do to increase trade, investment and knowledge exchange for our mutual benefit,’ he added.
Deputy Farnham also wrote about Jersey’s participation in a multilateral free trade agreement known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership as a potential platform for further “bilateral engagement”.
He suggested Jersey and Canada could collaborate on shared priorities including climate action, gender equity, inclusion, and overseas development assistance.
The Chief Minister added: “Jersey and Canada have many ties – whether as members of the Commonwealth family, as part of the global Francophone or as friends and allies during some of the most difficult times in recent history – and it is more important than ever, in these times of global turbulence, that such international friendships are nurtured and protected.”
Prime Minister Carney has become the second Canadian prime minister without a seat in parliament and the first Liberal prime minister from western Canada.
The former economist and central banker visited King Charles at Buckingham Palace and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street earlier this week.
Prime Minister Carney takes office as Canada faces an escalating trade war with the United States, with American tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminium imports taking effect last week, followed in turn by retaliatory levies by Canada.
