Parties prepare for opening of Parliament
Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with government House leader Steve MacKinnon ahead of the new session of Parliament, and about the Liberals' priorities and goals after nearly six months away. Plus, our Sunday Scrum looks ahead to the throne speech and discusses what the government's message to Canadians could be.
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Globe and Mail
24 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Letters to the editor, June 15: ‘U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra claims America is a welcoming place. Really?'
Re 'U.S. envoy says Canadians facing device searches, detainment at border 'not a pattern' ' (Online, June 7): U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra claims 'America is a welcoming place.' Really? Sound hollow to me, coming days after 'Trump bans citizens of 12 countries from entering U.S., citing national security' (June 6). Banned not because of anything an individual might have done, but simply due to their nationality. Eric LeGresley Ottawa Re 'Massive fires burning across Alberta have helped put climate change back on the G7 agenda' (June 12): Senior Trump administration officials employ phrases such as 'secular, woke religion' to describe climate change, part of their justification for gutting environmental regulations. This resembles to me the reactionary part of the Vatican when, in 1633, it tried and condemned Galileo for the heretical view that the Earth is not the centre of the solar system. As contributor Arno Kopecky previously points out ('Canada's air and water at risk as Trump administration guts environmental rules' – Opinion, May 31), carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from 313 parts per million in 1958 to 427 ppm today. A measure of 450 ppm, which we are projected to reach in 2034 or 2035, is associated with 2 C of warming, which is also when scientists anticipate that we will start tripping uncontrollable feedback loops. When we cross our first tipping point, it could well demarcate the beginning of a climate apocalypse that Donald Trump and co. blithely dismiss. Patrick Wolfe Victoria Re ' 'National interest' must not be defined by economic interests alone. It must also reflect the rights of Indigenous peoples' (June 11): What better way to send a message to the U.S. President than to announce at the G7 that Canada's first ministers and Indigenous leadership affirm our commitment to Canada – with a focus on First Nations treaty rights and internal trade. Although some leaders might believe and act otherwise, First Nations treaty rights are constitutionally protected. These rights, which belong as much to you and I as to First Nations peoples, bind us together in ways that make internal trade possible, which trade by itself could never achieve. Otherwise, we'd still be a subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company. So why does the Prime Minister seem to be relegating treaty rights to backroom dealings? In response to Donald Trump's insults, they deserve marquee billing. Treaties should not be seen as obstacles to nation-building; they embrace the values which make us a nation, distinct and different from our American cousins. David Roddick Toronto Re 'Bus-only lanes can irritate drivers, but they help city dwellers share limited space' (Opinion, June 7): Please take blame away from the poor Uber drivers and delivery people. And stop with the trope that all bus riders take transit for environmental reasons. We should have more subways in downtown Toronto. We are not in the suburbs of Richmond Hill. What I see are public transit planners who have been horrible at their jobs, and have no choice but to implement a stop-gap measure that will likely destroy urban neighbourhoods. Apologies to Jane Jacobs: They screwed up. Rob Watson Toronto Contributor Jarrett Walker broke the first rule of consulting: Never give great advice away for free. We owe him a debt of gratitude. Advocating for 'transit priority' seems like common sense, but it also fundamentally contravenes what seems to be Doug Ford's 'common sense' belief that cars are God's gift to mankind. Timely, reliable public transportation would be the least expensive way to fight traffic congestion, improve urban living and reduce the impact of climate change. If, as stated, our city planners are aware of the public's reluctance to accept change, then we should get our politicians, and then the motoring public, onside to see that change is indeed common sense. I look forward to a photo op of the Premier getting to work faster on transit than by his car convoy. Len Ashby FCMC, Toronto Re 'Problematic smartphone use resembles a behavioural addiction, researchers say' (June 9): I read this after being without computer access for two days – days filled with failed short-term efforts to read (but the book was interesting the day before), jittering efforts to watch the Blue Jays (where last week it was a settle-in-for-two-hours pleasure), frenetic tidying and searching out recipes (suddenly I'm a neat freak or a cook?) and rummaging through on-demand television offerings. The 1955 Frank Sinatra flick The Man with the Golden Arm appealed. Ab Dukacz Mississauga Re 'Eleven mystery novels for your summer reading list' (Arts & Books, June 7): True confessions: Contributor Margaret Cannon's book reviews are my favourite part of the weekend Globe and Mail. I have been reading and saving them since my retirement 23 years ago. We seem to have a similar affinity for well-plotted murder mysteries. Recently I finished my 1,728th read: Murder your Employer (2023) by Rupert Holmes. (Not on Ms. Cannon's list, I believe; catchy title.) Thanks to Ms. Cannon. She is an inspiration. Edie Lewis Brantford, Ont. Re 'Day of the Jackal thriller writer worked as an informant for MI6″ (Obituary, June 10): I was saddened to read about the death of Frederick Forsyth. It was not only his spy novels that made him a household name in Canada, but also his story of a young British pilot trying to get home for Christmas. The Shepherd will be known to thousands of Canadian families, as it was read by Al Maitland on the CBC every Christmas eve. It has become a part of our family tradition on Dec. 24 to stop everything and be mesmerized by his incredible telling of this Christmas eve story. Andy Thomson Toronto Re 'Sunday morning' (Letters, June 7): A good reverend and letter-writer believes nature is 'God's first scripture' where we may go to find sanctuary. Ever since Victorian times, the Garden of Eden myth has been exploded, leading to some existential despair. In Michel Houellebecq's The Elementary Particles (1998), a character watches a whole host of atrocities play out on a nature documentary every week, leading to his conviction that 'nature, taken as a whole, was a repulsive cesspit.' I often partake in the therapeutic benefits of what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. But the 'spirit' involved is likely something very different than we'd like to believe. Luc Bouchet Calgary Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@
CBC
27 minutes ago
- CBC
What do you give the King? It could be cufflinks, a car or Indigenous beadwork
Hello, royal watchers. This is your regular dose of royal news and analysis. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox. Sometimes, a gift can say as much about the giver as it does about the person on the receiving end. So the list of official gifts to King Charles that was made public the other day by Buckingham Palace — complete with everything from cufflinks to a Rolls Royce — offers its own insights into leaders, countries and individuals who wanted to recognize his coronation or audiences they had with the monarch. Among the gifts are several with a Canadian connection. Many reflect Indigenous culture and heritage, whether they are beaded medallions or a four-volume Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. "It definitely speaks to the great importance of Indigenous culture and history in Canada," Justin Vovk, a royal historian at McMaster University in Hamilton, said in an interview. "It speaks to a recognition that Canadian culture and Canada's relationship with the monarchy … cannot happen without the inclusion and the acknowledgement of our Indigenous history. "I think it also speaks to the respect that the King has for Indigenous history and Canada's Indigenous people. I feel like those gifts on a personal level would mean more to him than, 'Oh look, another Maple Leaf pen or another bottle of maple syrup.'" When Charles was in Canada last month to deliver the speech from the throne, he began with a land acknowledgment. "This land acknowledgement is a recognition of shared history as a nation," he said. "While continuing to deepen my own understanding, it is my great hope that in each of your communities, and collectively as a country, a path is found toward truth and reconciliation, in both word and deed." The gift list released by Buckingham Palace covers items received in 2023, including the Rolls Royce from the King of Bahrain; and cufflinks, photographs, letters and a jar of honey produced by White House bees from the U.S. president of the day, Joe Biden, and his wife, Jill. While there are extensive rules around the receipt of royal gifts, in general, they ultimately become part of the Royal Collection. The Rolls Royce Cullinan Series II motor car — valued in the British media at 300,000 pounds (about $550,000 Cdn) — was a coronation gift from Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of Bahrain. Judith Rowbotham, a social and cultural scholar and visiting research professor at the University of Plymouth in southwestern England, suggests the gift says "a great deal" about the country giving it. Bahrain is noted for its lavishness, she said in an interview. "To have sent something like a jar of honey would have been humiliating for them." But for the United States, other factors could be at play. "With a [country] like the U.S., where there are real protocols about public expenditure on gifts of this kind of nature, you could expect something such as honey," said Rowbotham. "And the interesting thing is that honey, of course, lasts forever, so it can sit in the Royal Collection." As for the cufflinks from the Bidens, Rowbotham suggests they could come out on Charles's wrists when he's on official duties that have an American connection. "A state visit to the U.S. or U.S. state visit to the U.K., it could well be that King Charles will choose to wear his coronation gift cufflinks, because they will be there as objects to be used as part of the Royal Collection." During an audience with Charles in November 2023, Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, gave the King the four-volume Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada and a lidded wicker basket. Other gifts to Charles include items from retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who met with the King in February 2023 to discuss sustainability in space. Hadfield gave the King a lunar policy handbook and a small 3D-printed model of an astronaut. Four months later, Hadfield gave Charles a copy of his book The Defector during a reception with global leaders on space sustainability. "I think there's probably a desire there for the novelty of it. What do you bring a person who's received virtually any kind of gift you can imagine?" Vovk said. "Well, probably something simple and unique with a personal touch." More recently, the government of Canada made a $50,000 donation to the King's Trust Canada, a national charity focused on youth opportunities, in honour of the visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla to Ottawa in May. "The government of Canada's donation is part of a longstanding tradition of recognizing visits or tours by members of the Royal Family with a meaningful gesture," it says on its website. The donation, Vovk said, is a way in which the Canadian government can show its support for what the monarchy does in a non-partisan way. "It's a way of contributing capital that will be used to promote shared values." Gifts from Commonwealth countries are "pretty much always" intended for use and display, Rowbotham said. There's a practicality to them, she said, and the Canadian government's recent donation is in keeping with that spirit. "You're not giving something to show off. You're giving something which has a legacy effect, and a legacy effect which in particular benefits the King as King of Canada." Getting ready for Prince Edward As a Canadian Armed Forces captain a decade ago, Chris Michaud recalls feeling anxious as he anticipated meeting his regiment's colonel in chief for the first time. Now, as commanding officer of the Prince Edward Island Regiment, Lt.-Col. Michaud is anticipating a similar feeling as he meets Prince Edward again later this month. "I can remember when I first met him myself 10 years ago and being nervous," Michaud said in an interview. "I expect to be nervous … when he arrives to greet him again and to welcome him to the regiment." Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, will be on Prince Edward Island on June 25 as the unarmoured reserve regiment marks its 150th anniversary. Several events are planned over the two and a half days Edward is on the island. WATCH | Prince Edward visits the Prince Edward Island Regiment in 2015: Prince Edward inspects P.E.I. Regiment troops. 10 years ago Duration 0:56 "For us, it's a momentous opportunity," Michaud said. "We're small and this is an opportunity to celebrate the island's military history, its contribution to Canada, to peace operations, to [its] service in war as well…. "To have our colonel in chief to join us … on behalf of the soldiers, I can say it's a huge, huge honour and privilege to be able to welcome His Royal Highness to our birthday celebrations." Michaud said events planned by the regiment include a focus on priorities for Edward: the arts, Indigenous culture and youth. There will also be a royal regimental ball, a breakfast with serving members and a freedom of the city parade, something Charlottetown hasn't seen in almost 40 years. "For us, it's a huge opportunity to engage with the community as well because usually the only time that the island community … sees us is on Remembrance Day, so they'll have an opportunity to see us in a different light," said Michaud. Following Edward's time on Prince Edward Island, he will be, according to the Royal Diary, in Toronto on June 28 and Ottawa on Canada Day, July 1. Edward — in his role as chair of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award — will also attend two youth development forums. One is in Charlottetown on June 26 and the other in Toronto on July 2. The forums will focus on efforts to integrate skills-focused experiences into public education. Edward's "presence highlights the global significance of Canada's efforts to lead in education innovation and youth development," the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award — Canada, said in a media release Thursday. Vovk says Edward's visit, coming right after King Charles's first official visit to Canada as monarch, will have a more official tone, and the fact that Edward will be here on Canada Day, and in Toronto and Ottawa, seems "particularly strategic." "The Duke of Edinburgh would not be able to be coming on an official visit, let alone be in the largest city in Canada, and the capital on Canada Day, without the government's invitation," Vovk said. "There is part of me that does wonder if because the King's [24-hour] visit was just so lightning fast, if this is the more comprehensive state visit that we've sort of been waiting for." Rowbotham also looks at the length of the trip — a week — and sees it as perhaps something of a makeup for visits that were called off last year, when both King Charles (after his cancer diagnosis) and Princess Anne (after an injury involving an incident with a horse) were unable to come to Canada. Edward and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, have made numerous visits — separately and together — to Canada since they were married in 1999. Many have been lower-profile, working visits, when they spend time with groups, organizations and regiments with which they are affiliated. "They are the members of the Royal Family that visit Canada most often and they have clearly taken that on. They clearly love Canada," Rowbotham said. Edward and Sophie, Anne and Charles enjoy their time in the country, she said. "You can see that in the body language. You can see that in the commitment. I mean the King was dressing himself up as King of Canada symbolically, body language, the speeches, his words. It was an absolute affirmation of his commitment to his role as King of Canada." William's appeal for the ocean Prince William's profile on the international stage has been on the rise, and he was back there the other day, delivering a speech urging the world to "act together with urgency" to protect oceans. "They need our help," he told the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco on World Oceans Day. "Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems, and on the people and communities who depend most upon them." The speech in the presence of leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron is in keeping with William's interest in conservation and environmental issues. And it is in keeping with an interest that goes back a couple of generations in his family. It's "very much within the tradition" of his grandfather, Prince Philip, as well as his father, King Charles, said Rowbotham. "It was Prince Philip who ensured that his son and then his grandsons should have a consciousness of environmental issues," she said. "Prince Philip choosing to involve himself with the World Wildlife Fund was considered to be an almost embarrassing departure by many traditional courtiers back in the 1950s and 1960s." William is personally passionate about such issues, Rowbotham said. "That interest, that investment, personal as well as official investment, bears a very strong mark not just of his family heritage, but also the way in which figures, notably [broadcaster] David Attenborough, have been invited into royal circles to advise, to guide, to warn." Ahead of World Oceans Day, a video was released of a conversation between William and Attenborough, whose recently released film Ocean looks at the vast but fragile underwater world. William's oceanic interest spills into his personal life, Rowbotham said, noting that he takes his family to walk along the underpopulated beaches of the eastern England county of Norfolk, where "you have the chance to walk along and see day by day what the sea has washed up." "Those are not really 'having fun' and 'building sandcastle' beaches," said Rowbotham. "Those are beaches where you walk along and you pick up interesting stones, where you see various forms of marine life washed up." Other natural life was the focus of attention later this past week from William, who is Duke of Cornwall, as he launched a plan to restore peatlands and promote sustainable farming on the Duchy of Cornwall's Dartmoor estate. "Dartmoor is a magnificent and complex ecosystem — the balance between nature and people has evolved for thousands of years to shape the landscape we recognize today," William said in the forward to the plan. "To keep Dartmoor special, we must respond to the twin challenges of global warming and the requirement to restore nature, while ensuring the communities on Dartmoor can thrive." Royally quotable "Some of them might not want to see you that much. It's a mixed bag sometimes.'" — Prince William, as he joked that family can be something of a "mixed bag" when he spoke to soldiers at an army air field. Royal reads Crowds cheered as King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Trooping the Colour parade to mark the monarch's official birthday. At the King's request, there were marks of respect to remember the victims of the Air India crash, with the Royal Family in the parade wearing black armbands. [BBC] Charles was praised for his "faultless" firing technique after using an artillery gun during a visit to the home of the Royal Artillery. [BBC] When it comes to marking her 75th birthday year, Princess Anne had only one request — to host as many charities as possible for a special gathering at Buckingham Palace. [Daily Mail] David Beckham, the former England soccer captain, has described being knighted in King Charles's most recent honours list as "truly humbling." [ITV] Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, explored the idea of changing their family name to Spencer amid repeated delays by British officials to issue passports for their children, the Guardian has been told. Meghan posted a video of her dancing while pregnant with Princess Lilibet four years ago to mark her daughter's birthday. [BBC]
CBC
27 minutes ago
- CBC
Carney's first foreign policy test begins at G7 — amid Middle East crisis and Trump's trade war
Prime Minister Mark Carney will welcome leaders of the world's most powerful democratic countries Sunday for the start of a three-day meeting in the Rocky Mountains — a high-stakes summit that longtime G7 observers say could be one of the most consequential in years. Carney's priorities for this gathering in Kananaskis, Alta., reflect the challenges of our time: war and peace, energy security with a focus on critical minerals and artificial intelligence and "securing the partnerships of the future," according to the Prime Minister's Office. This will include talk about U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive trade actions against Canada and other G7 countries. And as parts of Western Canada go up in flames, Carney has also put wildfires on the agenda. The leaders will discuss bolstering joint responses to climate disasters and some sort of "wildfire charter" is expected. Israel's strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites, which began Friday, could overshadow the discussions on the official agenda. The guest list for the summit, which includes India's Narendra Modi, has drawn some domestic criticism but Carney has argued that big global challenges should be addressed by the world's big players — even if there are some lingering tensions. WATCH | How this G7 summit will differ from 2018: Why won't there be a leaders' communique coming out of next week's G7? | Power & Politics 2 days ago Duration 14:19 The Power Panel discusses the strategy behind Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to forego a final communique at next week's G7 leaders' summit that will be attended by President Donald Trump. "It's a landmark summit because never before have these leaders had to confront so many strong, simultaneously interconnected crises," said John Kirton, director of the G7 Research Group at the University of Toronto. Kirton is pleased with the guest list Carney has assembled, saying there are more leaders of consequence coming to Kananaskis than perhaps any other such meeting in recent memory. In addition to the G7 members and India, Brazil, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Ukraine, Mexico and Australia — the secretaries general of the UN, NATO and EU along with the head of the World Bank will be there for at least part of the proceedings. When Trudeau hosted in 2018, Canada's guest list included leaders from "overwhelmingly little countries" with a focus on those facing endangered by rising shorelines like Jamaica, the Marshall Islands and the Seychelles, Kirton said. "Carney's list — it's a great one," Kirton told CBC News. "If you really want to lead the world, and not just the G7 part of the world, then you want the next tier of the biggest leaders there at the table." Leaders will begin to arrive Sunday and then be ferried by helicopter to the summit site. Monday's session will be broadly focused on the economy and "economic peace," and then security matters, government officials said in a background briefing. The second day will be when the non-G7 leaders will be brought in. It's also when Ukraine will be a major focus. Carney personally invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a path forward for that war-torn country. Trump has been hostile to Ukraine at times as he pushes for a swift resolution to the war Russia started — but he has largely maintained U.S. military support and anti-Russia sanctions despite some of his tough talk. On trade and Ukraine, the summit's success will depend on what Trump does or does not do, said Fen Hampson, a professor of international relations and the co-chair of the expert group on Canada-U.S. relations at Carleton University. "Even when it comes to his tech bro buddies, things can go sideways pretty quickly," Hampson said. "That's really the big risk here — does the president arrive in a good mood willing to do business, or is he in a bad mood?" While he's not expecting Trump to drop all of his tariffs after a few days in the mountains, Hampson said a U.S. "commitment to work together in a positive way" and revisit trade actions could be spun as a win by Carney. A commitment from Trump to stay the course in Ukraine would also be well-received by Carney and the Europeans in the room, Hampson said. To secure that sort of shift, Europe may commit to dropping policies that irritate Trump, including its digital services tax, while Canada could play up its newfound commitment to a stronger military and more defence spending, longtime U.S. demands, Hampson said. But depending on Trump to play nice is a risky proposition, he said. "Carney is more than just the head waiter at this meeting," Hampson said. "This is going to be a real test of his own negotiating skills." Increasing tensions in the Middle East after Israel launched airstrikes in Iran will further test Carney. Iran fired dozens of missiles toward Israel hours later. "With Israel's attack on Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iran-Israel dynamics have to be at least informally on the agenda," University of Ottawa political science professor Thomas Juneau said. "It makes Prime Minister Carney's job way more complicated than it already was." No joint communique Unlike at past G7 summits, Canada is not planning to get all leaders to agree to a joint communique — a sometimes unwieldy list of priorities and accomplishments that all countries agree to sign. Instead, Canada has been working with the other countries ahead of time to secure leaders' approval on a series of short, joint statements focused on concrete actions and outcomes in key areas, a senior government official said ahead of the summit. This strategy could be interpreted as a way to avoid what befell the 2018 G7 meeting Canada hosted in Charlevoix, Que. Trump did not want to sign on to a series of climate change-focused measures — something former prime minister Justin Trudeau made a priority at those talks despite Trump's well-known hostility to environmentalism. The president ultimately agreed to the joint communique while withholding U.S. support for some green measures — but then torpedoed G7 unity entirely in a series of post-summit tweets, saying he was offended by what Trudeau said at a closing news conference. Rather than squabble over policy measures Trump will never support, Carney is focused on getting G7 leaders to coalesce around things that have a reasonable chance of garnering a consensus, a senior government official said. The government is framing this agenda as a more streamlined, focused document than the last one. Trudeau, by comparison, tried to get G7 support for 28 areas of agreement in Charlevoix. Trump may be the sticking point on trade and Ukraine, but Kirton said Carney's program suggests Canada is setting up this meeting to be a success on other issues. "If you're going to hit home runs, you really need the U.S. to go along with you. On many of Mark Carney's priorities, it's easy to see Donald Trump agreeing," he said, referring to defence spending, AI and a move to crack down on deadly drugs like fentanyl. "Carney has said he wants Canada to be a global leader. This is the way to make that happen — if he can pull it all together on the spot."
