Carney praises Canadian unity as Canada Day celebrations kick off

In his first Canada Day address as prime minister, Mark Carney emphasized Canadian unity in a "changing" world.

"One hundred and fifty-eight years ago, a few provinces bet on the idea that they'd be stronger together than they ever could be apart. They were right, and so they became a new federation that's now grown into our strong, bilingual, multicultural and ambitious country," Carney said in his video address.

That unity includes writing the country's "next chapter" together "in true partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis."

The prime minister took a moment in the video to acknowledge the recent challenges the country has been facing.

"The world is changing. Old friendships are fraying, our economy is being buffeted by a trade crisis and our values are being tested by attacks on democracy and freedoms," he said.

But Carney noted that Canadians have been uniting "in a more divided and dangerous world," pointing to his one Canadian economy plan as a way to push back against instability.

"This is the greatest nation on earth. Our destiny is to make it greater still — not by what we say, but by what we do. Happy Canada Day," said Carney.