The phrase “might makes right” feels less like a cliché and more like a chilling reality in 2026. Prime Minister Mark Carney recently hailed new trade agreements with China as a “new world order,” a phrase that, while unsettling, proved remarkably prescient.
The term itself carries a weight of history, evoking images of shadowy cabals and secret societies – the Illuminati, the Freemasons, whispered conspiracies of global control. But the current reality is far more blunt, and far less subtle.
Canada, for decades, has navigated the world as a middle power, often finding itself overshadowed by larger nations. But the old rules, the constraints of international law and economic interdependence, are eroding. A new, brutal Social Darwinism is taking hold.
America, Russia, and China now operate with a level of dominance unseen in recent history. They are, on many days, unapologetic in their pursuit of power, and the rest of the world largely observes in silence, forced to accommodate their ambitions. The question isn’t whether they wield power, but whether we must now actively celebrate it.
Consider China’s actions. The unlawful imprisonment of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig for years, despite their innocence, remains a stark reminder of China’s disregard for basic human rights. Beyond that, the establishment of illegal “overseas police stations” within Canadian borders represents a blatant violation of our sovereignty.
The interference in Canadian federal elections – covert funding of candidates, bribery of politicians – is criminal activity, plain and simple. And the secret execution of at least four Canadian citizens in 2025, over objections from our government, is a horrifying escalation.
This is only a partial accounting. It doesn’t include the relentless pressure on Canadian trade – canola, seafood, auto manufacturing – or the indifference to the genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, or the support for organizations designated as terrorist groups.
Former Prime Minister Trudeau, despite his flaws, at least possessed the courage to confront China on these issues, a boldness that drew the regime’s ire. It was a flawed approach, perhaps, but it was an attempt to stand on principle.
There appear to be two distinct Mark Carneys when it comes to China. The pre-election Carney, who warned of China as Canada’s greatest security threat, and the post-election Carney, who now champions China as a reliable trading partner, a “strategic partnership,” and even part of a “new world order.”
The justification, inevitably, is pragmatic. With a volatile America and a war raging in Europe, the need for new trade opportunities is undeniable. Offsetting Trump’s tariffs and navigating his unpredictable policies is a legitimate concern. But at what cost?
Is a trade deal worth aligning with a nation that imprisons, executes, and spies on our citizens? A nation that openly disregards our laws and undermines our sovereignty? The answer feels increasingly fraught with risk.
Perhaps there is no alternative. Perhaps we are entering an era where brutality and banditry truly define the international landscape. But the speed of this shift, and the willingness to embrace it, feels deeply unsettling. And the chilling accuracy of that “new world order” phrase? It’s a warning we ignore at our peril.
