Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday that Canada would require unimpeded humanitarian aid flows to Gaza at scale as a precondition for joining U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” to oversee transitional governance in the territory.
Carney, speaking to reporters in Doha, Qatar, confirmed he had accepted Trump’s invitation in principle but said details of the initiative — including its structure, financing, and a reported $1 billion permanent membership fee — remained unclear.
“The president raised it with me a few weeks ago,” Carney said. “Canada wants money to have maximum impact. We still do not have unimpeded aid flows, humanitarian aid flows at scale to the people in Gaza. … That is a precondition for moving forward on this.”
A Canadian government official, granted anonymity to discuss the matter, clarified to POLITICO that Canada would not pay for a seat on the board and that the United States had not requested money. The official added: “The proposed Charter is still a document under discussion and many terms and conditions are still being worked out.” Carney, the official said, signaled his intent to accept the invitation “because it is important to have a seat at the table to shape this process from within.”
The White House announced Friday that the board would be chaired by Trump and include a cadre of international leaders to guide Gaza’s transition following the conflict. Carney said the proposal had come up in discussions with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, where the two leaders found alignment on the need for a positive outcome.
🚨 United Nations Security Council acknowledges and endorses President Trump's BOARD OF PEACE. pic.twitter.com/Qam0XpkLqx
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 17, 2025
“I found that we were very aligned about what needs to happen, how it needs to work in order for this to be consistent with a positive outcome,” Carney said.
Carney’s visit to Doha marks the first by a sitting Canadian prime minister and reflects a broader shift in Canadian foreign policy to deepen trade and defense ties in the Gulf, driven in part by escalating trade tensions with the United States.
Trump announced new tariffs on Saturday against eight European allies — Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland — starting at 10% on February 1 and rising to 25% on June 1, unless the United States acquires Greenland.
“This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Carney called the escalation “a serious situation” that has Canada “concerned.”
The Doha visit follows Carney’s trip to Beijing, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a preliminary trade deal to de-escalate tensions between the two countries. The agreement includes major reductions in Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola and an initial import quota of 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into Canada annually, reversing a 100% tariff policy aligned with the United States.
A pleasure to meet with President Xi in Beijing.
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 16, 2026
Canada and China are forging a new strategic partnership. We’re leveraging our strengths — focusing on trade, energy, agriculture, seafood, and other areas where we can make massive gains for both our peoples. pic.twitter.com/C1YGTF5w7J
Xi described the meeting as a milestone — a “turnaround of ties.” Carney said the deal opens the door to future Chinese joint-venture investments in Canada’s auto sector.
Some Trump administration officials, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, have expressed irritation with the Canada-China detente. Members of the House Select Committee on China have also voiced concerns. Trump himself, however, appeared untroubled, telling reporters on Friday: “It’s work Carney should be doing for Canada. If you can get a deal with China, you should do that.”
