King Charles Signals Canadian Strength to Trump
Britain's King Charles III and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney look on during the opening the first session of the 45th Parliament of Canada at the Senate of Canada in Ottawa on May 27, 2025. Britain's King Charles III is heading to Canada for a brief but "impactful" visit, at a time when President Donald Trump is floating the idea of making his northern neighbour the 51st US state. The 76-year-old monarch, who is also Canada's head of state as part of the Commonwealth, has never publicly commented on the ambitions of the U.S. president, a noted admirer of the royal family. Credit - Blair Gable/POOL—AFP/Getty Images
King Charles III is not just monarch of the United Kingdom, he is also the putative ruler of 14 other Commonwealth realms—including Canada. In that role, he paid a heavily freighted visit to his northern realm this week to deliver a message to the leader of the republic to the south.
In an act of prime ministerial ventriloquism, Prime Minister Mark Carney had Charles deliver Canada's throne speech, a ceremony in which elected politicians sit humbly in the presence of a ceremonial figurehead who reads words written by the politician who is actually in charge.
Normally, this duty is discharged by the governor general, a Canadian who represents the monarch in Canada. Mary Simon—Canada's first Indigenous governor general—would, in the normal course of events, read the speech in a little-noticed event in the sleepy Senate chamber.
But these are not normal circumstances. Rather than having Simon do the job, Carney had Charles and Queen Camilla fly in, travel to Parliament Hill in a horse-drawn carriage behind an honour guard of Mounties in a show of regal pageantry not seen in the capital since Charles' late mother, Elizabeth, opened Parliament in 1977.
Charles's presence in Ottawa was unusual. It was his 21st trip to Canada, but the first time in which he appeared in Parliament to kick off a parliamentary session with a throne speech. There was a happy and friendly crowd there to greet the royal visitors, breaking out into impromptu rounds of 'O Canada' as they waited for the royal procession, but the monarchical fever has not spread far beyond the parliamentary precinct.
Most Canadians have apathetic, if not negative, feelings about the monarchy, an institution that seems increasingly distant as the country's cultural links to Great Britain grow weaker. A poll this week found that 83% of Canadians 'don't really care,' about Charles's visit. But the seemingly archaic constitutional structures suddenly looked useful to the people running the country.
Because President Donald Trump has been threatening to annex Canada, something that he seems to believe was possible given Canada's comparatively small military, Canadians have been by turns fretful and intent on showing their resolve. Inevitably, they looked for support from the mother country, home of their head of state. But UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer has been criticized for repeatedly failing to speak up for Canadian independence. His ministers apparently pleaded with Canada to keep Charles from saying anything that might damage the relationship with the UK. But Charles is the king of Canada, as well as the UK, and Starmer could not have stopped him from going, even if he wanted to do so.
When Starmer himself visited the White House in February, hunting for a trade deal, his perfunctory gift was an invitation from the King for Trump, who described Charles as a 'beautiful man, a wonderful man.' Having observed Trump's taste for all things gold and royal, Carney used Charles to send a clear signal to Trump: the King is with us.
Charles, who is strictly limited by long constitutional tradition on what he can say about anything political (practically nothing) repeatedly demonstrated his support for Canada with coded symbols—at least until he could show up in person and deliver the message in person. Carney, speaking through Charles, acknowledged that 'many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around.'
Through his presence, Charles reminded Canadians that Canada has a different, and independent, constitutional tradition. Through his words, he sent a signal to Trump, who Carney likely hoped was paying attention.
'We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War,' Charles said, switching easily between English and French. 'Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes."
There followed a recitation of Carney's to-do list—including faster approvals for energy projects and an ambitious home-building program—before he circled back to deliver the main message again: "As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free."
The words came from Carney, but the Canadians were hoping that the intended recipient of the message, in the White House, will get the message: Canadians don't want to be annexed.
Early in his second term, Trump seemed to hope for a groundswell of annexationist sentiment north of the border. However, there are now indications that Trump has realized that his northern neighbours would like to stick with their royal, perhaps albeit antiquated, traditions—and with their sovereignty.
In a tense but successful visit to the Oval Office earlier this month, Carney pointed out that some properties never go on the market: "We're sitting in one right now, Buckingham Palace that you visited, as well. And having met with the owners of Canada over the course of the campaign the last several months, it's not for sale, it won't be for sale, ever."
Trump responded by saying 'never say never.' But his new ambassador to Ottawa, Pete Hoekstra, has said that his marching orders have nothing to do with annexation, which suggests the American president may be ready to move on.
It would be foolish to predict how Trump will respond, or whether he will even notice, but Canadians and their monarch have done what they could to send the American president a clear message about their sovereignty.
Canada already has a King, and it's not Trump.
Contact us at letters@time.com.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Analysts assess the potential impact of Trump's surprise 50% steel tariffs
-- U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced on Friday that steel and aluminum tariffs will double to 50%. The move, set to come into effect on June 4, was unveiled during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. It was later confirmed on TruthSocial and comes amid broader debates around U.S. industrial policy and foreign investment. Analysts are now evaluating the implications of this surprise decision, with most agreeing that the immediate domestic effects may be less severe than the broader geopolitical risks. JPMorgan's Tatsuya Maruyama said the direct impact on major Japanese steelmakers such as Nippon Steel Corp (TYO:5401), JFE Holdings, Inc. (TYO:5411), and Kobe Steel, Ltd. (TYO:5406) is expected to be limited, given that 'the U.S. accounts for about 4% of Japan's steel exports.' Maruyama pointed out in a Monday note that Nippon Steel and JFE export only about 1% of their total shipments to the U.S., while Kobe Steel exports about 3%. Still, he warned that 'rising global protectionism' is a growing concern, noting that a wave of anti-dumping measures and safeguards in regions like South Korea, the EU, and India could further strain global trade dynamics. 'If such countermeasures gain momentum, Japanese steel products may also be targeted and the export environment may worsen,' Maruyama continued. Meanwhile, analysts at BMO Capital Markets believe the sudden tariff hike could jolt domestic markets. 'The doubling of import tariffs, if maintained, is likely to create a panic in the market and trigger a restocking cycle that in our view has the potential to push prices >$1,000/st in the near-term,' the analysts said. However, they believe the spike would be temporary given macro uncertainty and seasonal demand trends. The broker upgraded Nucor (NYSE:NUE) to Outperform but downgraded Algoma Central (TSX:ALC), which it called 'a relative tariff loser.' The aluminum market may be more exposed, according to BMO. The U.S. covers only about 20% of its own aluminum consumption domestically, making it more vulnerable to supply disruptions. 'If tariffs do double, this is expected to put material upside pressure on the Midwest premium (MWP),' BMO wrote, estimating it could reach '$0.75/lb-plus' in theory, although higher aluminum cost will likely weigh on demand and thus offset some upside pressure. That said, the brokerage sees Century Aluminum (NASDAQ:CENX) as well positioned to benefit from a rise in the Midwest premium, while Alcoa (NYSE:AA) could see a negative impact of $1–2 per share, or 4–7%, due to its reliance on Canadian production. Still, BMO expects Alcoa may redirect some of its Canadian output to the EU market. Related articles Analysts assess the potential impact of Trump's surprise 50% steel tariffs Street Calls of the Week VIDEO: How to analyze a stock like a pro with the CEO of HF Foods
Hamilton Spectator
28 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Mission impossible': Why the Bank of Canada faces ‘risky' June rate decision
OTTAWA - Few would confuse Hollywood action star Tom Cruise with Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem. But while Cruise rides a plane in tailspin to his latest box office smash, some economists say Macklem finds himself in his own high-stakes circumstances with the central bank's interest rate decision on Wednesday. Macklem's mission is to chart a path for interest rates that keeps Canada's economy afloat at a precarious moment without straying from its inflation-taming mandate. 'It really is mission impossible,' said Andrew DiCapua, principal economist at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The latest data show price pressures could be building up again in Canada at the same time some economists warn of a tariff-induced slowdown on the horizon, pulling monetary policy in opposite directions. 'The bank really is in a difficult position here, but they really should be resuming rate cuts to get their interest rates lower to somewhere around two per cent, again, to cushion the Canadian economy for what's to come,' DiCapua argued. The Bank of Canada's policy rate stands at 2.75 per cent following a pause at the central bank's last decision in April, snapping a streak of seven consecutive cuts. Most economists expect the central bank will hold rates again on Wednesday. In April, Macklem said the Bank of Canada would pause issuing any formal forecasts and be less forward-looking than usual until it gained more certainty on how the economy would react to ever-shifting tariff threats. President Donald Trump threw a new wrench into the gears of global trade late Friday when he announced plans to double existing tariffs on steel and aluminum entering the United States to 50 per cent starting Wednesday. After Statistics Canada reported a surprisingly strong 2.2 per cent annualized rise in real gross domestic product for the first quarter on Friday, money markets were betting overwhelmingly in favour of another rate hold this week. BMO last week firmed up its call for another hold in response to the latest economic data, now projecting a cut to instead come in July. 'The key point here is that the GDP figures are sending no obvious distress signals so far in 2025,' BMO chief economist Doug Porter said in a note to clients. But the question for some economists isn't what the economy has done — it's what comes next. The Bank of Canada's own surveys of businesses published in early April showed sentiment was 'sharply' lower amid the tariff uncertainty, with many firms putting investment and hiring plans on hold. StatCan said the main reason Canada's economy was growing in the first quarter was because many businesses were trying to rush ahead of the tariffs, ramping up exports and stockpiling inventories. Macklem said at the G7 Finance Ministers' Summit in Kananaskis, Alta., last month that the Bank of Canada was expecting a run-up in economic activity in the first quarter, but that the months that follow 'will be quite a bit weaker.' 'They're really waiting for a shoe to drop, so to speak,' said DiCapua. There were early signs of economic pain in the April jobs figures released last month, with the trade-sensitive manufacturing sector contracting by roughly 31,000 positions and the unemployment rate rising two ticks to 6.9 per cent. A slowing economy usually takes the steam out of inflation as Canadians swap spending for saving, but April inflation data showed underlying price pressures were instead heating up. Cutting interest rates can encourage businesses and consumers to spend — mitigating an economic hit — but also risks fuelling inflationary pressures. 'Outside of the current situation that we're in, I would say that the Bank of Canada should be holding interest rates,' DiCapua said. 'But the data that we are seeing come in, especially through the labour market ... is going to move the Canadian economy into a very weak position that should keep prices at bay. So it's kind of a risky balance here.' Stephen Brown, deputy chief North America economist at Capital Economics, said he expects the central bank will deliver three more quarter-point cuts at every other decision to bring the policy rate down to two per cent before the end of the year. 'Our view at Capital Economics is that it's worth cutting again in June as insurance against those downside risks and try and protect the economy a bit,' he said. There are also 'psychological' reasons for a June cut, Brown argued. Should the Bank of Canada keep rates elevated, businesses and consumers may hold back even more on their spending decisions, which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy that weakens the economy. 'If the bank doesn't cut here, because they're still very concerned about inflation, that's telling businesses and consumers that the bank doesn't necessarily have their back,' Brown said. CIBC chief economist Avery Shenfeld is among those calling for a rate hold this week. He said he sees the case for an interest rate cut too, but doesn't think the Bank of Canada's June decision is its final reckoning. 'No one interest rate decision in isolation would ever be a fatal error one way or the other, but I think the clock will start to tick louder on getting some interest rate relief if the economy remains soft,' Shenfeld said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
In the news today: Cooler week ahead as fires burn by Flin Flon, Man.
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed... Cooler week ahead as fires burn by Flin Flon, Man. Cooler temperatures and a chance of rain this week is forecasted in a northwestern Manitoba city that's had to evacuate thousands due to wildfire. As of Sunday night, Environment Canada is projecting temperatures in the mid teens to mid 20s over the next week, with a good chance of rain coming next Saturday in Flin Flon. Crews have been trying to keep a blaze burning nearby at bay, as they have said the fire has been contained to outside its perimeter highway. At this time, crews say there have been no structure losses. To date, more than 17,000 people have been displaced by wildfires in Manitoba, including 5,000 from Flin Flon. Here's what else we're watching... Carney, premiers meeting in Saskatoon Canada's premiers are meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in person for the first time since the federal election to pitch which major projects they think should get fast tracked. The recent campaign saw Carney vow to slash federal approval times on major infrastructure projects considered to be in the national interest to help make the country an "energy superpower." The full list of big industrial projects they're discussing is being kept secret, since they don't want to send a bad signal about anything that doesn't make the short list. But Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his pick is the Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she wants to see the Port of Prince Rupert become a major trade corridor. The first ministers are also expected to discuss breaking down interprovincial trade barriers, which would make it easier to purchase Canadian-made goods from other provinces and territories. Bank of Canada faces 'risky' rate decision Few would confuse Hollywood action star Tom Cruise with Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem. But while Cruise rides a plane in tailspin to his latest box office smash, some economists say Macklem finds himself in his own high-stakes circumstances with the central bank's interest rate decision on Wednesday. Macklem's mission is to chart a path for interest rates that keeps Canada's economy afloat at a precarious moment without straying from its inflation-taming mandate. "It really is mission impossible," said Andrew DiCapua, principal economist at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The Bank of Canada's policy rate stands at 2.75 per cent following a pause at the central bank's last decision in April, snapping a streak of seven consecutive cuts. Most economists expect the central bank will hold rates again on Wednesday. Ontario to limit debate on controversial Bill 5 Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is moving to shut down debate on its most controversial piece of legislation this session, one of a plethora of bills getting the fast-track treatment before the legislature rises for a summer break. A mining law known as Bill 5 that would give the government power to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects in areas deemed to have economic importance – and remove some endangered species protections – has sparked a lot of opposition. A legislative committee heard from First Nations leaders and environmental groups, as well as mining groups, over two days and as the committee was considering amendments last week the NDP and Liberals used procedural tools to grind the process to a halt, in protest. Government house leader Steve Clark is now stepping in to limit further committee time and require the bill to go back to the house for third reading, with just one hour of debate, and a final vote that same day. While Bill 5 got two days of committee hearings, the six other pieces of legislation the government is speeding up have had no hearings, and will have as little as half an hour of third-reading debate, with just nine minutes each allotted to the two recognized opposition parties. Hockey players' sex assault trial continues The sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team is expected to hear today whether another one of the players will take the stand. Alex Formenton's legal team is expected to tell the court whether they will call any witnesses, including their client. Another accused, Carter Hart, testified over two days last week, which included one day of cross-examination by the Crown. Formenton, Hart and their ex-teammates Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. The trial centres on an encounter with a woman inside a London, Ont., hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025. The Canadian Press
