Threads of new world order could be woven at next G7, says Carney

OTTAWA – Federal Prime Minister Mark Carney believes that the “threads” of a new world order could be woven at the G7 summit next week.

Mr Carney made the remarks during a discussion at Trinity College Dublin, while on a six-day trip to Europe.

In January, the Prime Minister gave a speech in Davos calling on middle powers to unite against the great powers, which had a worldwide impact.

He says this year’s G7, to be held in Évian-les-Bains, France, will not only bring together its full members, since other countries, such as Kenya, Brazil, Egypt and India, will participate in the summit.

Mr. Carney emphasizes that these other partners will bring “a broader perspective and an additional element to the solution.”

According to him, the G7 thus recognizes that it has no claim to lead the world, if indeed it had the intention to do so.

The Canadian Prime Minister stressed that certain issues were evolving “quite quickly”. He noted that artificial intelligence is largely unregulated, which can lead to a range of problems, including child safety and systemic risk from cyberattacks or hacking.

“The importance of sharing defenses, of having common standards, of not publishing models with this power before others are ready, it is an imperative. This is a subject that we will certainly discuss at the G7,” he declared.

The French government, which chairs the summit, indicates that the G7’s priorities will include resolving major geopolitical crises, notably through G7 support for Ukraine, the fight against crime and the protection of children online.

Earlier this year, French lawmakers approved a bill banning social media for children under 15, as the idea of ​​setting a minimum age for using such platforms gains momentum across Europe.

The Canadian government introduced its own online safety bill this week, which would force social networks to block access to children under 16, although platforms could obtain an exemption if they put in place sufficient protections.

Bill C-34, presented Wednesday in the House of Commons, would also regulate companies behind AI-based chatbots by imposing an obligation on them to act responsibly. This includes measures to reduce the risk of officers disseminating harmful content and putting crisis intervention protocols in place for situations involving self-harm, suicide or violence.

A Canadian government official said this week that there would likely be no comprehensive final statement from the leaders following the summit, but that statements on specific themes could be expected to be issued by the leaders throughout the event.

Recent reports from the International Monetary Fund and the French G7 presidency indicate that global macroeconomic imbalances continue to worsen and cannot be resolved without China. The official said leaders were expected to discuss the future of the global economy and their discussions would likely also focus on China’s industrial overcapacity.

Mr Carney is expected to hold meetings with world leaders at the summit, although it is not yet clear whether he will meet US President Donald Trump.

– With information from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa