Liberals hold first post-election meeting on the eve of new spring session
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Carney dodged questions about this possibility when asked about it a few days ago and simply said that these votes on the Reform Act will be taking place in caucus.
Liberals will also have to decide who they will be supporting to run for Speaker. As of Friday, at least seven candidates — five Liberal MPs and two Conservative MPs — were in the running, but eligible MPs have until 6 p.m. to decide to remove their names.
Carney, for his part, has a few busy weeks ahead of him after the start of the spring sitting.
Carney will be meeting with the country's premiers in Saskatoon on June 2, will be hosting U.S. President Donald Trump and other G7 leaders in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, and will be attending the NATO Summit in the Netherlands from June 24 to 25.
More to come.
National Post
calevesque@postmedia.com
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Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Premiers, PM talk about ‘generational change' after high-stakes meeting
SASKATOON — Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said the nation-building projects discussed by the premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday present a 'generational opportunity for Canadians,' especially those who live in poorer communities. Provincial and territorial leaders sat down with Carney in Saskatoon and each premier was armed with wish lists of major projects they hope the federal government will deem to be in the national interest, then fast-track for approval. 'The point is to build the certainty, the stability and the ambition that builders need to catalyze enormous investment — investment to make Canada into an energy superpower,' Carney said at the closing news conference. Premier of Manitoba Wab Kinew, left to right, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs of Canada Dominic LeBlanc, Premier of Québec François Legault, Premier of New Brunswick Susan Holt, and Premier of the Northwest Territories R.J. Simpson during the First Minister's Meeting in Saskatoon on Monday, June 2, 2025. (Liam Richards / The Canadian Press) Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the gathering was the 'best' they have had in the last decade — a light jab at former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who frequently had frosty relations with the group, especially prairie premiers looking to build out the energy sector. Ford said the premiers, and the whole country along with them, stand united as Canada comes under attack from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs — even as some in the group scrapped over pipeline politics. While the group mulled over a number of potential natural resource and infrastructure developments in private, they did not release a final list. 'Nothing was carved in stone at this meeting,' Ford said, adding he had no expectations the prime minster would approve specific projects at the meeting. 'I described him today as Santa Claus. He's coming and his sled was full of all sorts of stuff. Now he's taking off back to the North Pole and he's going to sort it out and he's going to call us.' The federal Liberals have yet to reveal in Parliament their promised legislation to speed up approvals for select projects to a maximum of two years. That could be tabled as early as this week. When he was pressed on the lack of specifics after the meeting, Carney said he could name lots of examples of contenders. He rattled off a list that included the Grays Bay Road and Port, which would connect southern Canada to the Arctic by road, along with the Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario. Notably, he mentioned the Pathways Alliance oilsands project, though he did not commit to any. Carney said the group would refine what should count as priority projects over the summer and touted that as 'private proponents become aware of the opportunity here, we're going to see more projects coming forward.' He said the upcoming federal legislation will also mandate meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples, including in which projects get picked and how they are developed. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith went into the meeting warning that any list that doesn't include new pipelines would send a bad message to her province. She left the meeting on a positive note, saying it's up to political leaders to find a proponent for a new pipeline and that she's willing to give this process a chance. Premier of Saskatchewan Scott Moe, left to right, Premier of Manitoba Wab Kinew, and Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador John Hogan during to the First Minister's Meeting in Saskatoon on Monday, June 2, 2025. (Liam Richards / The Canadian Press) 'I'm encouraged by the immediate change of tone that we've seen from recent months,' she said. 'When we hear the prime minster talking about being an energy superpower, we haven't heard that language for some time.' Before the meeting, Kinew was asked how confident he was that one of his pet projects — modernizing the Port of Churchill — would get the green light from Ottawa. 'We need to get our natural resources in Canada to tidewater. I think, in time, you'll see that Hudson Bay is probably the most tenable course towards hitting international tide waters.' He was asked about the challenges of building a heavy-traffic rail line to the northern port. 'We have tidewater. We've got communities who are ready to engage in northern Manitoba to bring these natural resources to market. So let's use the private sector to figure out the engineering, the best route and how to energize the Western Canadian engine that's going to power the Canadian economy,' he said. In April, Kinew and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok signed a statement to work together to push for an energy corridor to the North. Akeeagok said Monday he sees the potential to strengthen Canada's sovereignty and the North, for a change. 'The infrastructure gap between north and south is something that, I think, we're all taking note of, and that this is our moment as a country where we're unified around wanting to see us prosper and to become stronger and very much look forward to seeing actual infrastructure built to ensure that our communities are healthy,' Nunavut's premier said. When asked how he'd like to see fellow premiers react if their projects don't make the cut, Kinew used a hockey metaphor. 'This is Team Canada and it doesn't matter if you're the first shift for the initial puck drop or if you're there killing the penalties. At the end of the day, everyone's going to have their time on ice and everyone's going to have a role in building up this great country,' he said. On the issue of Chinese tariffs on Canadian agriculture and seafood products, the prime minister said he plans to work urgently to have them removed. Carney called it a top priority and said Ottawa is speaking with Chinese officials at the ministerial level. Premier of Manitoba Wab Kinew speaks to media prior to the First Minister's Meeting in Saskatoon on Monday, June 2, 2025. (Liam Richards / The Canadian Press) A statement released after the meeting said premiers want Canada's trading relationship with China to improve. Beijing imposed retaliatory tariffs of 100 per cent on Canadian canola oil and meal, peas and seafood after Ottawa slapped levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has said China's tariffs threaten his province's canola industry. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Kinew agreed it's a major priority for Manitoba. 'I think it speaks to the fact that we're trying to solve this complex, multi-variable equation: We have the Trump administration on one side and then we have an ascendant People's Republic of China on the other side,' he said. 'I think that this meeting here today of the first ministers… is an important step forward for us being able to have that showdown with China, have that showdown with the Trump administration and make sure that you and your jobs come out on top.' — with files from The Canadian Press Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Pipeline policy divides B.C., Alberta as premiers meet with Carney in Saskatoon
British Columbia is pushing back against Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's proposal for a bitumen pipeline to B.C.'s northern coast. It was among the topics of Prime Minister Mark Carney's meeting Monday with premiers in Saskatoon, where the assembled leaders are discussing a draft list of 'national interest' projects to be fast-tracked through the approval process. Smith said any project list that doesn't include new pipelines would send a bad message to Alberta as separatist sentiment flares up in that province. Smith said she wants to see a bitumen pipeline built to ship oil to the Port of Prince Rupert on B.C.'s northern coast. 2:17 Danielle Smith's pipeline push at premier's meeting gets support from Carney B.C. deputy premier Niki Sharma pointed out Monday that Smith's pipeline proposal has 'no proponent at this stage' and said her province is pursuing 'shovel-ready' projects. Story continues below advertisement 'Although we have differences of opinion with respect to that, we're focused on where we can find alignment,' Sharma said on her way into Monday's meeting. 'We're going to be focused on shovel-ready projects in B.C. that we can bring forward and we know will have a really solid impact on the economy.' B.C. Premier David Eby was not at the meeting. He is in Asia for a preplanned trade mission. Smith said that nine federal policies, including the oil and gas emissions cap and the tanker ban on B.C.'s northern coast, discourage companies from proposing pipeline projects in Canada. She wants the Carney government to eliminate those polices. 'The problem is unless we address the nine terrible policies that have damaged investor confidence, we're not going to get the proponents coming forward with major investments,' she said. Carney vowed during the election campaign to slash federal approval times on major infrastructure projects in the 'national interest' to help make the country an 'energy superpower' as the country adjusts to ever-changing tariffs imposed by the U.S. Legislation to make that infrastructure push a reality is expected to be introduced in the House of Commons as early as this week. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We're in the process of redefining our relationship with the United States,' Carney said at the beginning of Monday's meeting. Story continues below advertisement 'That's what this meeting is about, building a stronger Canadian economy, a one Canadian economy.' 3:54 Decarbonized oil in Canada's 'best interest': Carney talks pipelines after meeting with premiers The prime minister and the premiers are keeping the full list of projects under discussion a secret because they don't want to send negative signals about anything that doesn't make the short list. On his way into the meeting Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the idea of a pipeline to B.C.'s northern coast would be discussed. 'Hopefully we can get it out west, so we can get to the Asian market, but we have to get it north and we have to get it east as well,' Ford said. Ford said it's 'absolutely critical' that Canada expand its export markets. The Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario is among Ford's main priorities heading into the meeting. Story continues below advertisement Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he hopes that Carney's push to make Canada an 'energy superpower' can help stem rising western alienation. Moe said that in order for this to happen, the regulatory environment will need to change. 'Policies do matter, and I think that's proved out in Saskatchewan over the last decade or decade-and-a-half with the mining investments that we've been able to attract. But policies do matter. And so we are going to need a shift in policies in order for that to happen,' Moe said. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said Smith's pitch to fast-track a pipeline aligns with Carney's agenda. 'I think that that's exactly what the prime minister is talking about – nation-building projects to make us an energy superpower, build the kind of trade infrastructure that lets Canada really thrive,' she said. 'Out in the East and in New Brunswick, we know a lot about this because we're looking to connect our electricity infrastructure to build the connections that we need … to Nova Scotia and P.E.I. and Quebec and the U.S., so that the kind of energy that we're developing can reach the rest of the country.' 4:30 Carney, Canadian premiers united on 'nation-building' projects, but do not list them Quebec has opposed pipelines in the past and Premier François Legault said that any new pipeline projects that would run through the province need to be examined closely. Story continues below advertisement 'So we need to see what's the economic impact for Quebec, what is the impact on the environment. So what I say is that if there is a project going through Quebec, we'll study it,' Legault said. When asked about Smith's demands, Legault said he was invited to the meeting by Carney, not Smith, and he hadn't seen any concrete proposal for a new pipeline. With differing demands from the 13 premiers, there will have to be compromises if Carney's vision of building a 'one Canada economy' is going to work out. Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson said that, with so many competing agendas around the table, not all premiers are going to get 'everything they want.' 'But there's opportunity, there's a lot to do in Canada,' he said. 'A lot of these projects, they might not start on day one, maybe they're going to start down the road.' 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. 0:31 Alberta's demand for pipelines not 'ideological,' Smith says Many provinces, including Quebec and Ontario, are coming to the table with legislation that would eliminate some of these longstanding obstacles to internal trade. Story continues below advertisement Reporters and TV cameras were allowed into the meeting room to watch opening remarks Monday. Ford walked into the room chatting with Smith and then told reporters that 'love is in the air' just before the premiers gathered for the roundtable. Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and Carney's outgoing chief of staff Marco Mendicino shook hands with Moe on the margins of the room just before the meeting's start. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc took a seat at the table with the premiers next to Holt, while Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson sat at another table at the very back of the room near Mendicino and Freeland. — With files from David Baxter in Ottawa.
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
G7 protests to be livestreamed to leaders in Kananaskis to give protesters a voice
Law enforcement officials overseeing security at the upcoming G7 leaders summit in Alberta are expecting large protests but plan to make sure they stay peaceful. That includes livestreaming some of the sites to Kananaskis, where leaders from Canada, the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and the European Union will meet from June 15 to 17. 'These three designated G7 demonstration zones will have live audio and video feeds, which will be broadcast to G7 leaders and delegations at the site of the summit in Kananaskis,' said RCMP Chief Supt. David Hall at a media briefing Monday. 'People who want to express themselves, as is their right, can't get close to the leaders, so the leaders won't see and hear the protests. So by establishing that video link, we are helping facilitate that Charter access.' Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen A security gate and fence outside the site of the G7 Leaders meeting is pictured in Kananaskis, Alta., Monday, June 2, 2025. Jeff McIntosh/ The Canadian Press Hall said teams have been reaching out to protest groups to clarify their intentions. He said protests are legal and every effort will be made to ensure they are given their right to express themselves. 2:05 G7 motorcade training draws Alberta officers from across province Joe Brar, the G7 event security director from Calgary police, said the city has protests every single weekend and it will continue throughout the summer. Story continues below advertisement 'G7 puts Calgary on a global stage so we expect that to draw more protesters as well,' Brar said. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We are working with organizers in advance … to have conversations around demonstrations, what people's intentions are, when they're planning on demonstrating … and ensuring they understand those that are lawful.' A display in the Calgary police parking lot showed some of the security equipment available for G7, including tactical units, protective gear, armoured police and military vehicles, and officers on horseback. View full screen View full screen View full screen Previous Image Next Image Close Modal Gallery 'These tools are reserved for worst-case scenarios and would only be deployed after other available options have been exhausted,' said Hall. Story continues below advertisement Greg Medley, deputy chief of Alberta Sheriffs, said officers will be involved in traffic control, searching vehicles and, if necessary, helping with mass arrests. 'These officers are specially trained in the mass handling and movement of those in custody and will assure the detainees' legal rights are respected and upheld while maintaining public safety and security across all event sites.' Air restrictions over the Calgary International Airport and over Kananaskis Village have already been announced. 2:09 Air restrictions over Calgary, Kananaskis for G7 Leaders' Summit The radius at Kananaskis Village will be 30 nautical miles (56 kilometres), while it will be 20 nautical miles (37 kilometres) at the airport. The restrictions are set to begin at 6 a.m. June 14 and remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on June 17.
