Provincial premiers aren’t interested in empty gestures. While Prime Minister Mark Carney began his term amid high expectations, premiers across Canada are watching with measured skepticism. They’ve heard promises of collaboration before, only to see Ottawa centralize control.
This is a test of trust—one that won’t be passed with empty slogans or staged photo ops. Trust begins with openness, not authority. It’s built through leadership that makes room for others and treats people like equals and not problems. If Carney wants to heal a fractured nation, he must understand that people don’t follow power—they follow leaders who show up and listen.
I recently facilitated a leadership retreat where the focus wasn’t policy or protocol. It was something more personal: What does it feel like to be led well? Again and again, one word came up: welcomed. People remembered leaders who made space, who adjusted the tone, who listened without interrupting. Leaders who behaved not like commanders, but like respectful peers.
This isn’t sentimental fluff. It’s a governing principle.
A good leader does more than offer kind words. They anticipate needs, notice discomfort and encourage honest participation. And most importantly, they do it before trust is earned. Openness comes first, and trust follows.
Now imagine applying that to politics.
Premiers are meeting Carney with different histories and deep ideological divides. Some carry grievances, others cautious hope. But all are watching closely: Can Carney build the trust that premiers and Canadians demand?
Trust doesn’t begin with a handshake. It starts with how the room is prepared: with tone, transparency and how feedback is received. Not in lofty speeches, but in real, reciprocal dialogue.
We’ve seen what the opposite looks like: top-down decisions made without consultation, provincial concerns dismissed and policies imposed with little regard for local realities. That style of leadership may deliver headlines, but it erodes trust.
So the question isn’t just about leadership style. It’s about survival. Can Carney create a climate that keeps the country working together?
Let’s stop with the clichés about “setting the tone from the top.” Start making room for others.
- Are the right voices invited?
- Are concerns met with curiosity, not defensiveness?
- Is anyone actually listening?
And let’s be clear: making space for others doesn’t mean appeasement. It’s not weakness. It’s strength—authentic leadership requires discipline, humility and the courage to share control.
This isn’t just for Ottawa. Whether you’re managing a business, running a province or leading a family, the principle holds: people engage when they know their voice matters. Real leadership isn’t about control—it’s about creating space for others to contribute meaningfully.
That’s what fosters collaboration. That’s what earns long-term credibility. And that’s what lays the groundwork for the hard, nation-shaping conversations ahead.
If Carney is serious about national unity, he needs to stop trying to control the room and start creating space for others by:
- Showing up early.
- Listening.
- Sharing the floor.
Because in today’s Canada, command-and-control leadership won’t hold. Only leaders who make space for others will keep the country together.
Faith Wood is a professional speaker, author, and certified professional behaviour analyst. Before her career in speaking and writing, she served in law enforcement, which gave her a unique perspective on human behaviour and motivations. Faith is also known for her work as a , with a focus on thrillers and suspense. Her background in law enforcement and understanding of human behaviour often play a significant role in her writing.
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