U.S. lawmakers push Canada on wildfire smoke as Carney defends climate record and clean energy shift

U.S. lawmakers from Michigan are pressing Prime Minister Mark Carney to take stronger action on Canadian wildfires that send smoke across the border. The fires in northern Ontario have triggered air quality alerts in the U.S. for the third straight year. Carney responded by pointing to Canada's investments in clean energy and grid expansion, arguing that previous targets did not drive real emission cuts. Carney acknowledged his policies may lead to higher near-term emissions than expected under his predecessor, but said the focus is now on investment-driven climate action. This includes doubling Canada's electricity grid and tying major projects like pipelines to low-carbon conditions. The exchange highlights the tension between resource development and emissions reduction, and the growing cross-border pressure to manage wildfire risk linked to climate change.