Garrett Woolsey

Mark Carney said one thing to Ryan Jespersen and another when pressed by the parliamentary press gallery today on constitutional reform To Ryan Jespersen (Real Talk podcast, ~Oct 16): “Am I open to constitutional reform? Yes, I’m open to it… but I’m open to it with laying the groundwork for consensus. And part of the way you… lay groundwork for that is you build trust, you build on success, you move forward.” He also stated: “The constitution is not unamendable, to be clear.” The Toronto Star turned these remarks into the “Carney opens door to constitutional change” story ahead of the Alberta referendum To the parliamentary press gallery today: When a reporter followed up on the implication that he was open to constitutional change: “I’m sorry, you have no interest in having constitutional change? No, don’t. I didn’t say. That’s not what I said at all.” He then stressed that he favors “working now pragmatically to common solutions,” noted that constitutional change is difficult and long, and argued issues such as immigration should be handled through federal-provincial cooperation without opening the Constitution. He framed constitutional reform as something “we don’t start there” and that is “not necessary.” The flipPodcast (Alberta-focused audience): “Yes, I’m open to it.” Press gallery when directly asked what that means: “That’s not what I said at all,” followed by a clear preference for non-constitutional routes. Same Prime Minister, different rooms, different messages yet AGAIN! The “open to constitutional change” line that generated headlines gets walked back the moment the gallery presses him on it... then he rushes away @MarkJCarney