King to open Canada's parliament amid Trump threats
The new US ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, said sending messages to the US is not necessary and Canadians should move on from the 51st state talk, telling the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that if there's a message to be sent there are easier ways to do that, such as calling him or calling the president.
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The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
King Charles and Pope Leo defend US Constitution from Trump
When King Charles – in his capacity as King of Canada – opened the new parliament in Ottawa last Tuesday, the symbolism could not have been more powerful, or the King's purpose more clear. While it is not unprecedented for the sovereign to open a new parliament in one of the Commonwealth nations of which they are head of state, it is seldom done. (It last took place in Australia in 1977.) It had not happened in Canada since 1957. When the Queen opened parliament then, it was an occasion of ceremonial significance only. Then-US president Dwight Eisenhower was not threatening to 'annex' Canada as the 51st state of the US, nor had he launched a trade war with the deliberate intention of severely damaging the economy of America's closest ally. Last week's proceedings, though attended by the customary pomp and circumstance, were not about ceremony. Although the King's words might not have been provocative in ordinary times, because of the events of recent months, they were crafted with unmistakable meaning and deliberate intent. Recalling the shared sacrifices of two world wars, the existential struggle of the Cold War and the war on terror, he said: 'Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the government is determined to protect … As the anthem reminds us: 'the True North is strong and free!'' It was the most politically pointed speech given by a British monarch in the modern age – a reprimand to the president who did not mince words: keep your hands off my realm! No prime minister could have delivered that message so effectively. It did not come just from a politician; it came from a king. A real king, not a vainglorious tabloid celebrity with delusions of grandeur, like the person to whom it was directed. King Charles' speech came just two weeks after another historic event: the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. Unlike the modern monarchy, the Vatican has not avoided engaging actively, if circumspectly, in high politics. There is no better recent example than the pontificate of John Paul II, the importance of whose discreet but purposeful support for the democratic revolution of the 1980s in his native Poland is increasingly being appreciated by historians. It may have been Reagan and Thatcher who brought communism down, but John Paul II played an important role as well. Loading I remember, as a student, travelling through Poland in the summer of 1982. As the regime began to totter, the despised dictator General Wojciech Jaruzelski imposed martial law. Fearful people converged upon parish churches, which became centres of resistance and mobilisation. (Poland was still the most Catholic country in Europe.) The co-operation of the Polish church with the revolutionary Solidarity movement had the firm support of the former archbishop of Krakow. It is too soon to know how politically engaged the new Pope will be. His choice of papal name – in homage to Leo XIII, who, in the encyclical Rerum Novarum, famously defended the rights of workers and organised labour – has been widely interpreted as a revealing gesture. When he was still Cardinal Prevost, he did not hesitate to use social media to criticise US President Donald Trump's mass deportation of migrants – most of them from South America. As the first North American pope, his potential influence in his homeland could be immense, should he choose to use it.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
King Charles and Pope Leo defend US Constitution from Trump
When King Charles – in his capacity as King of Canada – opened the new parliament in Ottawa last Tuesday, the symbolism could not have been more powerful, or the King's purpose more clear. While it is not unprecedented for the sovereign to open a new parliament in one of the Commonwealth nations of which they are head of state, it is seldom done. (It last took place in Australia in 1977.) It had not happened in Canada since 1957. When the Queen opened parliament then, it was an occasion of ceremonial significance only. Then-US president Dwight Eisenhower was not threatening to 'annex' Canada as the 51st state of the US, nor had he launched a trade war with the deliberate intention of severely damaging the economy of America's closest ally. Last week's proceedings, though attended by the customary pomp and circumstance, were not about ceremony. Although the King's words might not have been provocative in ordinary times, because of the events of recent months, they were crafted with unmistakable meaning and deliberate intent. Recalling the shared sacrifices of two world wars, the existential struggle of the Cold War and the war on terror, he said: 'Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the government is determined to protect … As the anthem reminds us: 'the True North is strong and free!'' It was the most politically pointed speech given by a British monarch in the modern age – a reprimand to the president who did not mince words: keep your hands off my realm! No prime minister could have delivered that message so effectively. It did not come just from a politician; it came from a king. A real king, not a vainglorious tabloid celebrity with delusions of grandeur, like the person to whom it was directed. King Charles' speech came just two weeks after another historic event: the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. Unlike the modern monarchy, the Vatican has not avoided engaging actively, if circumspectly, in high politics. There is no better recent example than the pontificate of John Paul II, the importance of whose discreet but purposeful support for the democratic revolution of the 1980s in his native Poland is increasingly being appreciated by historians. It may have been Reagan and Thatcher who brought communism down, but John Paul II played an important role as well. Loading I remember, as a student, travelling through Poland in the summer of 1982. As the regime began to totter, the despised dictator General Wojciech Jaruzelski imposed martial law. Fearful people converged upon parish churches, which became centres of resistance and mobilisation. (Poland was still the most Catholic country in Europe.) The co-operation of the Polish church with the revolutionary Solidarity movement had the firm support of the former archbishop of Krakow. It is too soon to know how politically engaged the new Pope will be. His choice of papal name – in homage to Leo XIII, who, in the encyclical Rerum Novarum, famously defended the rights of workers and organised labour – has been widely interpreted as a revealing gesture. When he was still Cardinal Prevost, he did not hesitate to use social media to criticise US President Donald Trump's mass deportation of migrants – most of them from South America. As the first North American pope, his potential influence in his homeland could be immense, should he choose to use it.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
King Charles takes veiled swipe at Donald Trump over Canada
Britain's King Charles III threw his weight behind Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday, in a pointed show of unity as President Donald Trump continues to push for Canada to become America's 51st state. 'Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them. Fundamental change is always unsettling,' the King said, addressing Parliament in both English and French. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: King Charles takes veiled swipe at Donald Trump. Calling it a 'critical moment,' Charles emphasized Canada's core democratic values and signaled the Carney government's resolve to defend them. 'Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values that Canadians hold dear and one which the government is determined to protect,' he said. 'The system of open global trade, that while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades is changing. Canada's relationships with partners is also changing.' Charles said Carney and Trump 'have begun defining a new economic and security relationship,' one 'rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.' While Charles serves as Canada's nonpartisan monarch and is currently undergoing cancer treatment, he did not author the speech — it was written by the Carney government as part of the formal Speech from the Throne. The monarch's comments come after President Trump made repeated calls to make Canada the 51st US state. Credit: Supplied / AAP Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those in attendance, dressed in a suit paired with green and orange sneakers. 'Every time I come to Canada, a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream and from there straight to my heart,' Charles said. 'I've always had the greatest admiration for Canada's unique identity, which is recognised across the world for bravery and sacrifice in defense of national values and for the diversity and kindness of Canadians.' He ended his address with a patriotic nod: 'As the anthem reminds us: The true north is indeed strong and free,' prompting applause from lawmakers. Before the speech, Charles and Queen Camilla arrived by horse-drawn carriage at the Senate of Canada Building, where he was greeted by a 100-person guard of honor from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment. On Monday, the King met with Carney and Governor General Mary Simon, Canada's first Indigenous head of state representative. Though the monarchy holds limited sway over Canadian public opinion, Charles has stepped up symbolic gestures in recent months, from planting a maple tree to wearing Canadian medals and calling himself the 'King of Canada.' Carney, who took office in April after winning his party's leadership in March, said Charles' visit 'speaks to the vitality of our constitutional monarchy and our distinct identity, and to the historic ties that crises only fortify.' The tone marked a shift from earlier this month, when Carney criticized the British government for hosting Trump, saying the invitation undermined Canada's efforts to present a united front against talk of U.S. annexation. Since January, Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada should become part of the United States — remarks that have sparked outrage among Canadians and diplomatic unease in London. Charles is set to return to the U.K. later Tuesday after visiting Canada's National War Memorial.
