JOHANNESBURG – Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada no longer has a feminist foreign policy, but still wants to uphold values on the world stage that include LGBTQ+ rights and combatting violence against women.
Carney is at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, where he says it was important that the South African chair put gender-based violence into the joint statement, as something countries must tackle.
He says it’s an issue Canada still needs to make progress on at home, and can work with other countries to create a safer world for women.
But he said he “wouldn’t describe our foreign policy as feminist foreign policy,” despite working to uphold those issues.
As Canada seeks more trade, including with governments that don’t prioritize gender equality, Carney says it’s part of Canada’s policy to try making progress by discussing strategies and approaches toward equality.
He also said that Canada’s relations with the European Union are “unmatched” because of shared values that include sustainability, gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 23, 2025.
