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Globe and Mail
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
King Charles's visit to Canada: A Commonwealth flex with an audience of one
Long ago, in a land far, far away (the political landscape of four months ago), a small but mighty kingdom was being menaced by a much larger one with a mad king on its throne. The leaders of the small kingdom gathered in the coldest month of the year to sort out how to protect themselves. One of those leaders, who hailed from a mighty rock perched in a savage sea, came forward with an idea. The bigger kingdom heated its homes and powered its wondrous machines with fuel from the smaller kingdom. Perhaps that power source could be their queen – dangerous and powerful, even in repose – in this chess match no one had asked for, the man from the rock explained. 'We don't need to expose our queen this early,' he said. 'The opposition does need to know the queen exists, but they don't need to know what we do with the queen.' As it turned out, at that first ministers meeting in Ottawa back in January, Newfoundland and Labrador then-premier Andrew Furey had the right idea on how Canada might seek leverage in the trade war started by U.S. President Donald Trump. He was just a little off in the particulars. The royal element would not be a chess metaphor, but a literal thing, and the master move would involve not a queen, but the King. It was in his first postelection news conference that Mark Carney unfurled the news that King Charles III would open Canada's 45th Parliament by reading the Throne Speech. The Prime Minister described it as 'a historic honour which matches the weight of our times.' It is that, sure. But in the face of Mr. Trump's constant threats, this visit was also clearly designed by Mr. Carney as a branding exercise, a live-action history lesson, a sovereignty manifesto and – maybe most of all – a Commonwealth flex directed at the White House. 'I think it's a very deliberate way to say to the world – and Canadians as well – who we are and who we aren't,' said Patricia Treble, a Canadian journalist who covers the Royal Family. 'That we are a constitutional monarchy, we are not a republic. The King of Canada is Charles III.' When Mr. Carney was first sworn in as Prime Minister, he described Canada as a country 'built on the bedrock of three peoples: Indigenous, French and British,' and he has repeated that framing over and over since. His first official trip – to Paris, London and Iqaluit – echoed that trifecta. It was in London during his audience with the King that Mr. Carney invited him to read the Throne Speech, an idea he says the King 'warmly endorsed.' When Mr. Carney announced that diplomatic coup, he couldn't resist pointing out that he'd been highlighting Canada's founding story since his first moments as Prime Minister, and now the head of state was coming to town. The whole thing was an elaborate set-up for geopolitical Show and Tell. 'If you want to really put your finger on Canadian sovereignty, well, bringing the person who personifies and embodies the Canadian state and Canadian sovereignty is a good way to do that,' said Philippe Lagassé, Barton Chair at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University and a specialist on the Crown and the Constitution. A senior government source said the idea is to emphasize Canada's distinctive history and identity as a way of underlining its sovereignty in the face of U.S. aggression. The Globe is not identifying the source because they were not authorized to discuss these matters publicly. The source agreed that the King's presence is a show of Canadian muscle, and said this is also intended to demonstrate that Mr. Carney has working relationships with leaders all over the globe. Ms. Treble pins meaning to the fact that this visit was shoehorned into a packed royal calendar, even as the King deals with cancer. 'He's going across five time zones and however many kilometres for essentially 24 hours,' she said, adding, 'It is that important for him, and for him, he knows the symbolism of this.' Only twice before has the sovereign delivered the Throne Speech in Canada ‐ in 1957 and 1977. The first occasion has clear echoes here, Ms. Treble said, because it was Queen Elizabeth's first visit to Canada after ascending the throne, as it will be for the King. 'This is incredibly rare, and that rarity, I think, emphasizes the importance,' she says. A royal visit is always a chance to draw a global spotlight, but the peculiar nature of a Throne Speech means the Canadian government gets to put words in the King's mouth that the entire world will watch him say. The government source said there has been extensive back-and-forth with Buckingham Palace to review the speech, though the content is broadly in line with the Liberal election campaign, platform and mandate letter Mr. Carney released for his cabinet. 'Even if the government is very careful not to put inappropriate language in the King's mouth, if it does try and send a signal through that speech, how is it going to be received in the U.S.?' said Mr. Lagassé. And then there is the more vivid, lizard-brained message of this visit, aimed straight at Mr. Trump. This is the President who redecorated the Oval Office with what looks like a can of gold spray paint and some garage sale picture frames, in an almost childlike performance of luxury and class. He reveres celebrity and social status, and the Royal Family possesses the rarest and therefore most valuable form of both: birthright. 'The signal intended, I think, is quite brilliant, because obviously the top of mind is how you deal with Donald Trump,' said Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat and vice-president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. 'And Donald Trump, we know, loves the royals. He'd like to be King himself. The visit to Buckingham Palace when the Queen was there was one of the highlights – he said this several times – of his first term as President.' None of that was lost on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who arrived at the Oval Office brandishing a letter from the King inviting Mr. Trump on a second state visit, which Mr. Starmer touted with Trumpian superlatives as 'really special' and 'unprecedented.' It paid off in a trade deal between the U.S. and the Britain. 'Americans love pomp and circumstance. They revolted and separated from the U.K., but they have never really let go of their reverence, I think, for the glory,' said Roy Norton, former chief of protocol for the province of Ontario and the federal government, among other diplomatic experience. 'And nobody more than Trump more overtly revels in that. So I don't blame Starmer – it's a tool in the tool box.' Mr. Carney has displayed a performative nonchalance in how he has talked about the King's visit. It reads like someone in a cartoon whistling casually while they dig a big hole in the ground, cover it with sticks and then hide behind a nearby rock to see who wanders by. When a British reporter asked Mr. Carney whether he was 'trying to send a message' to Mr. Trump, he went all coy, saying that the message was 'first and foremost, to Canadians' about their own sovereignty. She tried again: Really, it has nothing do with Donald Trump? 'All issues around Canadian sovereignty have been accentuated by the President, what he's said, they exist in normal times as well,' Mr. Carney said. 'So no, it's not coincidental, but it also will be a reaffirming moment for Canadians.' Then she asked Mr. Carney what Canadians thought of the invitation to Mr. Trump for another state visit to the U.K. 'To be frank, they weren't impressed by that gesture,' Mr. Carney said, adding that it 'cut across' the message about Canada's sovereignty. As Mr. Trump lumbers around the globe setting fire to anything that catches his eye, one of the few counterbalances to his immense, malevolent power is the fact that he is as intense and obvious as a small child in what he loves, wants and fears. He loves wealth, fame and status; he wants to be seen as possessing all of that by the gilded bucketload; he fears being disdained by those who have more of those things than he does. One way to handle a man like that is to convince him that an honest-to-goodness King desperately wants to have him as a dinner guest. Another way to deal with that man is to show him that the King will come for dinner at your place if you invite him, because even if it's not always obvious, the King he idolizes belongs to you, too.
CBC
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Former premier Andrew Furey MIA from HOA
The only thing that's been in Andrew Furey's House of Assembly seat over the last two weeks is Lucy Stoyles's handbag. Since the House reopened for the latest sitting, the former premier and member for Humber-Gros Morne is the only MHA who has been absent from the entire session. Andrew Furey stepped down as premier earlier this month but has not resigned as MHA, meaning he still continues to collect the $95,000 a year salary. Furey hasn't been in the house since May 9, when John Hogan took over the job. "While he was available if required, he requested and was granted leave by the caucus whip," Diane Randell, who handles communications for the Liberal caucus, told CBC News when asked why Furey wasn't in the house. She didn't provide any details about the reason he's not in the house. Before stepping down, Furey told reporters that he had operating time booked at the Health Sciences Centre after he was no longer premier. Furey was an orthopedic surgeon before entering politics and said he planned to return to that full-time after leaving politics Furey risks fines for absence The House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration act requires MHAs to attend every day the house is open, unless they have a valid reason. That includes illness, a death in the family, or to attend to constituency business. WATCH | Furey's absence could be costly: Andrew Furey not seen in legislature since he was replaced as N.L. premier 2 hours ago Duration 2:17 For the last two weeks, one MHA has been missing from the House of Assembly: Andrew Furey. He may no longer be premier, but he's still the MHA for Humber-Gros Morne. As the CBC's Peter Cowan reports, Furey's absence could be costly. The speaker can also grant an MHA leave, but a spokesperson for the speaker's office says so far they haven't received a request from Furey. If the absence isn't authorized then $200 for every day they're not in the house is deducted from a member's pay Furey's absence raises concerns: PCs Progressive Conservative MHA Barry Petten was surprised not to see Furey in the house. He was premier when the budget was introduced in April, but he wasn't there when MHAs voted to pass the budget late on May 14. "If you're an MHA there's a responsibility to get approved leave, notify the speaker your dealings. Nobody is saying you can't do the surgeries but you still have to look after your district," said Petten. Petten questioned whether Furey's constituents are getting the representation they deserve, and whether Furey is still making trips to his district. "If he's not he definitely should resign because he's not doing anyone any favours. Otherwise he's collecting an MHA's salary while he's over practicing medicine." The $95,000 a year salary is significantly less than what he earned as a surgeon. Public records show Furey billed $731,564.26 for his medical work in 2018-19 before he entered politics. If Furey does resign it wouldn't require a byelection, because it's within six months of the fixed elections date, which will take place on or before October 14. Resigning now could mean losing out on pension In order to be eligible for a pension after leaving politics, a member has to be elected twice, which Furey has, but the rules also say they have to be an MHA for at least 5 years. Furey became premier in August 2020, but wasn't elected as an MHA until October 2020, meaning he's likely several months short. CBC News asked the government about when exactly Furey would be eligible for a pension and spokesperson David Sorensen wouldn't provide a date, only quoting the rules which say five years. The size of his pension would likely not be very large, based on his relatively short service. The legislation says MHAs and ministers, which includes the premier, earn 2 per cent of their salary per year, so if he reaches five years of service CBC News calculated that his pension would likely be around $16,000 a year. Sorensen wouldn't confirm that calculation is accurate saying because he hasn't left "a calculation of his potential pension is not possible at this time."
CBC
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Andrew Furey not seen in legislature since he was replaced as N.L. premier
For the last two weeks, one MHA has been missing from the House of Assembly: Andrew Furey. He may no longer be premier, but he's still the MHA for Humber-Gros Morne. As the CBC's Peter Cowan reports, Furey's absence could be costly.
CBC
12-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Newly minted Premier John Hogan says he'll axe controversial sugar tax
Newfoundland and Labrador's newest premier says he's cutting a controversial tax that was meant to deter people from buying sweetened beverages — a move he says is motivated by public concerns about affordability. The Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax, also known as the sugar tax, was introduced in 2022 under former premier Andrew Furey. It added 20 cents to the cost of each litre of sugar sweetened beverages. In the tax's first year, the provincial government took in $11 million. In a later email to Radio-Canada on Monday, treasury board secretariat spokesperson Janelle Simms said the tax brought in just over $12.5 million in 2023 and a little over an estimated $12 million in 2024. The announcement to repeal the tax was made on the floor of the House of Assembly by Premier John Hogan on Monday afternoon, during the first sitting of the spring session. "This is the first official full day on the job, so it'll take a little bit of time to work through legislative and regulatory mechanisms to see how we do it," Hogan told reporters after question period. He says he already wrote to Finance Minister Siobhan Coady earlier on Monday about repealing the sugar tax, but says she will need time to work with retailers on reversing He says he came to the decision during the leadership campaign. "It was pretty clear throughout the leadership campaign that affordability remains an issue for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and it's a priority, as I said, of theirs. So it's a priority of our government," said Hogan. The sugar tax was introduced to encourage consumers to make healthier beverage choices, but Hogan says his announcement isn't a concession the tax wasn't working as intended and defended the impetus of the idea. "I think we need to continue to focus on healthier choices and healthy living in Newfoundland and Labrador. And premier Furey certainly focused on the well-being of this province as a key component of Health Accord N.L." he said. Hogan says the provincial government will continue to look at how people of the province can be healthier. "In the grand scheme of things, we need to continue to look at other options for well-being," he said. 'It's about time,' says Wakeham Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham, who has been calling for an end to the sugar tax since its inception, had reiterated his call on the floor of the House of Assembly ahead of Hogan's announcement. "My first reaction is, it's about time. I've been talking about that tax since it was first introduced as a measure to modify people's behaviours. It hasn't worked," said Wakeham. "All it has effectively done is take millions of dollars out of the pockets of [the] people of Newfoundland and Labrador." Wakeham says he would have repealed the tax if his party formed government in the next provincial election, which has to happen by mid-October. "And now I will be asking the premier when will we pass legislation in this session of the House — while we're sitting here this week or next week — to actually bring in the legislation to make this happen? Or is this simply going to be just another announcement," he said. Wakeham says he intends to hold the Liberal government accountable.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Liberal Leader John Hogan sworn in as premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
John Hogan speaks after he was announced as the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party leader replacing Dr. Andrew Furey, on Saturday, May 3, 2025 in St. John's NL. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly ST. JOHN'S — John Hogan has been officially sworn in as Newfoundland and Labrador's 15th premier. The Liberal premier announced the members of his new cabinet, who were also sworn in today during a ceremony at Government House in St. John's. Hogan, a 47-year-old lawyer, was elected to lead the governing Liberals at a convention last weekend. He replaced former Liberal leader Andrew Furey, who announced in February he would step down as premier after serving less than five years in office. Among those appointed to key portfolios are Siobhan Coady in finance, Krista Lynn Howell in health and Bernard Davis in education. John Haggie will serve as justice minister and Lisa Dempster has been appointed fisheries minister. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2025. The Canadian Press
