Dayo Ade Olusola| |M10news| Political Correspondent|5 August 2025
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing a political storm after being photographed embracing a shirtless man at Vancouver’s Pride Parade – just hours after his government missed a key deadline to finalise a major trade deal with the United States.
The image, widely shared on social media, shows Mr Carney smiling as he hugs a glitter-covered parade-goer wearing nothing but shorts and body paint.
It comes as negotiations over the North American Digital Trade Accord stalled over the weekend, pushing back hopes of an agreement once hailed as a landmark opportunity for cross-border commerce.
While supporters argue the Prime Minister was showing solidarity with Canada’s LGBTQ+ community, opposition MPs have accused him of poor judgement and misplaced priorities.
“There’s nothing wrong with celebrating Pride,” Conservative MP Rachel Young told M10News. “But doing so while a $40 billion trade agreement collapses sends the wrong message to Canadians.”
Controversial photo sparks backlash as Canadian government fails to finalise key trade deal with Washington
Talks between U.S. and Canadian officials were supposed to conclude on Sunday, 28 July, after months of negotiation. Instead, the deadline passed without resolution, with officials citing unresolved disputes over data localisation and digital taxes.
The Prime Minister’s Office defended Mr Carney’s attendance, calling the parade a “longstanding public commitment” and stressing that trade talks were being led by senior negotiators in his absence.
“The Prime Minister continues to support a fair and forward-looking trade deal,” a spokesperson said, “and remains fully briefed on the progress of discussions.”
U.S. officials have expressed frustration over the delay. A source close to the White House told M10News there was “genuine disappointment” over Ottawa’s inability to close the deal, adding: “Symbolism matters – but so does leadership.”
Despite the political tension, Mr Carney was warmly welcomed by parade-goers in Vancouver.
He marched alongside other public figures and was cheered by crowds for his visible support of LGBTQ+ rights. Still, the juxtaposition of the parade image and the missed economic milestone has drawn scrutiny from voters.
“He should have cancelled the photo op and focused on the deal,” said Samantha DuPont, a small business owner in Toronto. “Being an ally is important, but Canadians also need their Prime Minister at the table when jobs and trade are on the line.”
This is not the first time Mr Carney’s optics have come under fire. In April, he was criticised for attending a celebrity gala in New York during an ongoing labour dispute in Alberta.
Political analysts say the latest controversy could damage the Prime Minister’s credibility on economic leadership – particularly ahead of a potential autumn election.
As of Tuesday, no new date has been confirmed for resuming trade talks with Washington, and no further comment has been made by President Joe Biden.
M10news has contacted the Canadian Trade Department and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office for further clarification.
