COMMENT | It is not often that Canada - the US’ polite northern neighbour - steals the limelight at Davos. Long muted by proximity and dependence on the global hegemon, Canada’s voice at elite global forums has typically remained anchored in the safe harbours of diplomacy, consensus and multilateralism.

Which is why Prime Minister Mark Carney’s intervention landed like glass shattering in a quiet room.

Perhaps it was the shock therapy of US President Donald Trump’s demand that Denmark “hand over” Greenland that finally pushed Canada to bell the cat.

Speaking to the Davos elite, Carney did not mince words...