WATCH: The 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Spelled Out
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As world leaders gather in Alberta from June 15 to 17, this episode of Spelled Out breaks down what the G7 actually is, why it matters, and what to watch for this year. Reporter Bill Kaufmann sets the scene for the three days of meetings in Kananaskis, about one hour west of Calgary, looking at the impact of everything from the war in Ukraine to AI, climate change, and the return of Donald Trump.
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What is the G7?
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The G7 is a club of the world's richest democracies: the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada. The European Union also takes part.
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It started in the 1970s, during a time of global economic chaos, as a way to figure out how to keep the global economy steady.
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And for half a century, they've been meeting every year, discussing everything from trade to terrorism to tech.
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The 2025 agenda is packed: economic recovery, climate change, AI, the digital transition, and of course, the war in Ukraine.
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But what makes this summit especially unpredictable is the return of U.S. President Donald Trump. He's known for challenging traditional alliances and for bringing plenty of drama to global forums.
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Zelenskyy is pushing for tougher sanctions on Russia and more weapons and aid for Ukraine but that could rub Trump the wrong way, given his reluctance to escalate pressure on Moscow.
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While a lot of the action happens in front of the cameras, much of the work can take place on the sidelines.
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At summits like this, leaders break off into smaller, private meetings — sometimes one-on-one. These quiet moments are often where real deals and negotiations happen.
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Most of the area around the summit site in Kananaskis is closed to the public. Designated protest zones are set up in Calgary and Banff, where over 1,400 journalists will be reporting from an international media centre.
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Winnipeg Free Press
30 minutes ago
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In the news today: Fentanyl czar welcomes federal border bill
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Vancouver Sun
34 minutes ago
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'It's unacceptable': Brother of Jagmeet Singh says Canadians warned about risk to their life deserve protection
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National Post
35 minutes ago
- National Post
'It's unacceptable': Brother of Jagmeet Singh says Canadians warned about risk to their life deserve protection
OTTAWA — The brother of former federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says Canadians who receive a duty to warn about a threat against their life and safety should be provided protection, calling the lack of security 'unacceptable.' Article content Gurratan Singh says the need for protection is 'paramount' and that the current situation results in people being left to 'fend for themselves.' Article content Article content Article content 'It's unacceptable and an immediate step that must be given is security must be provided to those who are facing duty to warns from, especially, foreign governments.' Article content Article content 'I think any single Canadian who gets a duty to warn deserves that security immediately.' Article content Issues surrounding a duty to warn notification, a practice used by police to alert someone when it believes there to be a credible threat endangering them, have emerged in light of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to attend the G7 in Alberta next week. Article content Sikh activists and community leaders have denounced Prime Minister Mark Carney's invitation to Modi as a betrayal of their community. Article content They have pointed to the RCMP having said it has evidence showing links between violent crimes, such as murders and extortion, to the Indian government. Article content Former prime minister Justin Trudeau also told the House of Commons in September 2023 that it had 'credible allegations' that agents acting on behalf of the Indian government were involved in the killing of prominent Sikh separatist and activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Article content Article content India has denied the accusation, but had considered Nijjar, who advocated for an independent Sikh state to be created in India's Punjab province, to be a terrorist. Article content Article content Earlier on Thursday, Global News also reported, citing unnamed sources, that former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh had been surveilled by someone with ties to the Indian government, which resulted in the RCMP providing him protection. Article content During the recent federal election campaign, Singh himself revealed that the RCMP warned him about a credible threat against his life in late 2023, which resulted in him and his family being placed under police protection. Article content At the time, Singh's wife was pregnant with their second child, and the former party leader told reporters he was so concerned about the threat that he considered quitting politics.
