He said "ambition" at least 3 times in his speech and I am here for it. I have always maintained that Canadians are ambitious people, but lately our governments have acted like, and to some extent convinced Canadians, that we're a minor, irrelevant backwater that has no business dealing with greater world powers, particularly the USA who it's implied we should be subservient to. This self-sabotaged foreign policy has really damaged not only our own national identity but also our standing worldwide. Just as we felt betrayed by the USA turning its back on us and threatening us, when we turned away from our international support and peacekeeping roles many in the rest of the world beyond the USA felt betrayed by us too, albeit to a much lesser, but still perceptible degree.
We are the 9th largest economy in the world and the 1st largest territory. We have a major role to play in the world, and we need to understand that and take responsibility for it. We say things like "resource superpower" but we never really believe it. I think Carney believes it though, and better yet understands it, and I hope he's going to finally make Canada believe it. Not only are we the world's 9th largest economy, I think we can be, and we're going to be, even more than that. It is time for Canada to be ambitious and stand on the world stage again. We can ride this wave of nationalism to rebuild our Canadian Forces, protect the Arctic, and return to peacekeeping and defending democracy and fundamental human rights which are so heavily under attack around the world right now. Canada should once again become a beacon for good that others can rally around.