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Politico
3 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Still not over it
Presented by COVE Ocean Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Canada Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Thanks for reading Canada Playbook. Back to work. In today's edition: → New Democrats need a lifeline; Liberals need some phone-a-friends. → Advice for House rookies — yes, all of 'em. → Plus, a guide to the benches: Who is sitting where — and why. Trade war LOOK WHO'S TALKING — PETE HOEKSTRA just learned the hard way that although he's the U.S. envoy to Canada, there's no reliable way of speaking for DONALD TRUMP. — Tale of the tape: Over the weekend on CBC's 'The House,' Hoekstra advised Canadians to get over the '51st state' thing. 'If the Canadians want to keep talking about it, that's their business,' he told host CATHERINE CULLEN. 'I'm not talking about it. Donald Trump is not talking about it.' — O Canada: After an overnight stay in Ottawa, KING CHARLES III made headlines Tuesday at the close of the government's throne speech. 'The true north is indeed strong and free,' he said. There was no mention of Trump or annexation threats. — As if on cue: Trump was back at it Tuesday evening — wheeling a deal for his 'fabulous Golden Dome System.' The offer as presented to Canada on Truth Social: '$61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State.' — Making friends: Hoekstra is in The Hill Times this morning where he advises NEIL MOSS that he's not going to dwell on how Trump's words land in Canada. 'International diplomacy is tough. The world is a tough place. Getting prosperity, security, and safety for people— which are the top priorities of the president — that's hard,' he said during a May 22 interview. 'So, no, I'm not very sympathetic.' — Meanwhile, in diplomacy: The Globe is reporting via 'sources familiar' that Prime Minister MARK CARNEY has invited Mexican President CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM to attend the G7 Leaders' Summit in Alberta next month. We asked the PMO, but they said they couldn't say. → In related news: Carney says there needs to be more movement on tariffs before USMCA talks start, DARREN MAJOR of CBC News reports. And from MURRAY BREWSTER: PM says Canada is looking to join major European military buildup by July 1. Want more POLITICO? Download our mobile app to save stories, get notifications on U.S.-Canada relations, and more. In iOS or Android . DRIVING THE DAY AFTER THE ORANGE CRUSH: 7 UP — The New Democrats have been reduced to seven seats, and are no longer a recognized party in the House — but that hasn't killed their bargaining spirit. Liberals need votes to push through their agenda. The NDP still has more than enough. NDP MPs have a saying: Negotiations are in our DNA. That's their mentality as they dangle their support in exchange for concessions: a seat on committees, debate time in the House of Commons and more resources — aka money — to hire staff. New Democrats are negotiating with the governing Liberals and other parties. Interim NDP Leader DON DAVIES told reporters Monday the talks were 'fruitful.' Essentially there are two pathways for the NDP to get what they want. — Option 1: Convince the government to reform the Parliament of Canada Act. By law, a party must have 12 MPs to be a recognized party with access to the things they are now trying to wrangle. The law in theory could be amended to set the threshold at seven. → But, but, but: Government House Leader STEVEN MACKINNON threw cold water on that idea. 'The law says 12 members,' he said, adding there's no broad consensus to reduce the threshold. — Option 2: The House of Commons has limited jurisdiction over how parties are recognized. But the NDP will have to convince the Board of Internal Economy, which governs the chamber, to grant them resources. That committee is expected to be struck later this week. The NDP no longer has a seat at that table. This is the option the NDP is now pursuing. — Liberal lifeline: The government appears willing to help the NDP get at least some of what they want. MacKinnon told CTV's VASSY KAPELOS he's having 'constructive' conversations with Davies. 'I'm very open to entertaining some of his more practical requests,' he said Monday. 'We very much want to honor the history and the traditions and the role of the New Democratic Party.' — Getting messy: Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET doesn't want the NDP back on committees. 'It's our balance of power and we will protect it quite seriously,' Blanchet said. He did not hide his self-interest. 'There might be conversations about the resources that might be devoted to them. It's not done with so much enthusiasm, but I believe we have to say, 'OK what … do you want, and what's in it for the rest of us?'' — Keeping cards close: Conservatives, who have in recent years thwarted committee work and sided with the Bloc, haven't said where they stand. Playbook asked Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE and Deputy Conservative Leader MELISSA LANTSMAN if New Democrats should have spots on committees. But they didn't answer the question. — TBD: Nobody wants an election, and New Democrats enjoy far less leverage than even a few months ago. But Liberals are under pressure to deliver on key priorities — and a dance partner at every step could be their ace in the hole. ON THE HILL TODAY'S AGENDA — The House will spend the next several days debating the government's throne speech. But Parliament also has a few hundred billion dollars in spending to approve — and a first set of Liberal priorities to hash out. → Countdown to BBQ season: 18 sitting days left. — Priority No. 1: Finance Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE gave the House notice of a ways and means motion to implement the government's first signature proposals: an income tax cut 'for nearly 22 million Canadians,' the elimination or reduction of the GST on new home purchases and the elimination of the consumer carbon price. MPs will debate the motion next week at the earliest, following the throne speech debate. — Spending approval: Treasury Board President SHAFQAT ALI unveiled his government's main spending estimates on Tuesday — a C$486.9 billion package that requests C$33.9 billion for national defense, C$25.2 billion for Indigenous services and C$13.1 billion for employment and social development. The government will schedule four 'business of supply' days before the summer break. On those days, an opposition party gets a chance to make headlines with a motion meant to apply pressure on the government. Eventually, MPs will vote on the spending estimates — the literal 'supply' of money the government spends. Where the leaders are — Prime Minister MARK CARNEY has not released his public itinerary. — Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY will be in the House. Crickets on itineraries from everyone else, though CP notes in its preview of the day: 'PIERRE POILIEVRE will be absent from the House of Commons for the first time in two decades.' THE ROOMS THAT MATTER — The annual CANSEC defense and security trade show is underway at the EY Centre near Ottawa's airport. Defense Minister DAVID MCGUINTY will deliver a breakfast keynote at 8:25 a.m. Former U.S. Secretary of State MIKE POMPEO is on tap for a lunchtime keynote. (Reporters are invited to attend — but not report on the speech. Pompeo is planning to speak to reporters afterward.) — Toronto Mayor OLIVIA CHOW is in Ottawa, where she'll attend question period and later meet with Housing Minister GREGOR ROBERTSON. — Speaker of the Senate RAYMONDE GAGNÉ will preside over the swearing-in of DAWN ARNOLD and FARAH MOHAMED. Caught our ear MARK YOUR CALENDARS — The Conversation with DASHA BURNS arrives on Sunday, June 1 — and we're dropping a first look. Each week on her new podcast, Dasha will sit down with one of the most compelling — and sometimes unexpected — power players in Washington. This isn't just a podcast. It's a new kind of political interview show for a moment when politics feels more personal, more chaotic and more consequential than ever. Catch the video and audio trailer out this morning to see what Dasha's digging into this season. And subscribe to the podcast, wherever you listen or watch. Talk of the town WELCOME TO THE HOUSE — MIKE MORRICE used to scurry around the House of Commons before each day's question period. The former Green MP made the most of that fleeting moment when ministers were in their seats, no staff to gatekeep access. No better time to champion a concern on behalf of a constituent. Lawmakers gather today for their first QP — a test of the post-election energy they'll collectively bring to the place. Playbook canvassed a handful for their best advice for newbies getting their feet wet. — Meet the staff: Former Speaker GREG FERGUS advises rookies to introduce themselves to any of the 2,500 House employees who keep the building running. 'Take the time to get to know the names of the Parliamentary Protective Service agents, the folks who work in the cafeteria, the analysts and researchers at committees, etc.,' Fergus told Playbook. 'A kind word or a thoughtful conversation with these folks takes but a moment for the MP, yet makes a big difference for the employee.' → Practical tip: 'If you wear pants with pockets, place both hands on the arms of your chair before sitting down,' Fergus advises. 'It will be impossible to rip your pants!' — Don't waste time or energy on haters: In 2021, former NDP MP MEGAN LESLIE served up some Playbook advice on screen time: 'My best piece of advice is to turn your notifications off on your phone so you can choose when to engage the haters (or not) and focus on the people in front of you.' — Conservative MP DAVE EPP: 'Take it all in. It won't be until later one realizes how special this is,' the three-term MP texted us as he witnessed the throne speech 'about eight rows back from the bar in the Senate.' — Conservative MP SCOTT AITCHISON: 'Prepare, prepare some more, then get home to the people who sent you here,' said the party's leading voice on the housing file. For your radar PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS — Some rookie lawmakers are still reckoning with the enormity of their victories, getting used to their view of the House chamber, not yet comfortable in the place. Some are surrounded by familiar faces. Others are strangers. Here's what we took away from our scan of the first seating plan of the session — the first, we should clarify, of many iterations as the ranks shift and MPs are promoted and demoted. — The first backbench: Twenty former Cabinet ministers sit directly beside and behind Carney's ministry — an echo of the JUSTIN TRUDEAU era. — More echoes: Health Minister MARJORIE MICHEL sits directly in front of Labor Secstate JOHN ZERUCELLI. Michel was Trudeau's deputy chief of staff. Zerucelli was the former PM's director of operations for nearly three years. — Alberta watching: Energy Minister TIM HODGSON sits beside Environment Minister JULIE DABRUSIN on the front bench. The resource sector broadly applauded Hodgson's appointment and was broadly skeptical of Dabrusin's elevation. — Backing up the PM: When the cameras are rolling on Carney, several members of his ministry are prominent behind him: ANITA ANAND, REBECCA ALTY, MANDY GULL-MASTY, RANDEEP SARAI and STEPHANIE MCLEAN. Yes, that placement is deliberate — often a gesture for increased camera time with Carney. — Two sword-lengths away: Oppo Leader ANDREW SCHEER is back in the same seat where he once served as party leader. Among those visible when he's on camera: deputy leaders MELISSA LANTSMAN and TIM UPPAL; Finance go-to JASRAJ SINGH HALLAN; Canada-U.S. trade critic SHELBY KRAMP-NEUMAN; former B.C. Cabmin ELLIS ROSS; and BILLY MORIN, former chief of Enoch Cree Nation. — NDP split: Five New Democrats are clustered in the chamber's far corner: DON DAVIES, HEATHER MCPHERSON, LEAH GAZAN, ALEXANDRE BOULERICE and LORI IDLOUT. The remaining pair — GORD JOHNS and JENNY KWAN — are marooned across the aisle. MORNING MUST-CLICKS — 'KING CHARLES III delivered a clear message Tuesday to anyone who doubts Canada's sovereignty,' MICKEY DJURIC reports. — The Hub's SEAN SPEER says the PM still has time to transition from campaign rhetoric to a governing agenda. 'But that transition must start to come soon.' — 'This summer, the traditional barbeque circuit could look quite different. Instead of trolling for votes, the Liberals could be trolling for recruits,' TASHA KHEIRIDDIN writes in the National Post. — Sen. PAULA SIMONS took The Narwhal's 'moose questionnaire' and the results were delightful. — On the 'Curse of Politics' pod, DAVID HERLE makes the case that next week's First Ministers' Meeting 'is of vastly more consequence than this throne speech.' — JEN ROSE SMITH of CNN inquires: Are American travelers still welcome in Canada? PROZONE Our latest Pro PM Canada subscriber newsletter by MIKE BLANCHFIELD: King's speech, Carney's policy. Other headlines for Pro subscribers: — Clean energy industry enters 'nightmare scenario.' — White House adviser on Apple tariffs: 'We'll see what happens.' — U.S. lawmakers form Heat Caucus: 'We've had too many deaths.' — Trump forces showdown over nuclear regulation. — UK seeking to negotiate down Trump's 10 percent tariffs. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: HBD to former Toronto Mayor JOHN TORY. Noted: Former Prime Minister JEAN CHRÉTIEN is recovering after having a heart stent inserted, CBC News reports. Spotted: At the Earnscliffe-POLITICO 'House-warming' party hosted by the Métropolitain: SUSAN HOLT, RANJ PILLAI, ROB LANTZ, ROMAN BABER, AARON GUNN, STEPHEN FUHR, SOPHIE CHATEL, PAULA SIMONS, KODY BLOIS, GERALD BUTTS, COLIN DEACON, CLÉMENT GIGNAC, LISA HEPFNER and plenty more parliamentarians, lobbyists, journalists and public servants. HEATHER MCPHERSON (in an Edmonton Oilers jersey). Former Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU, wearing sneakers during the throne speech — Adidas Gazelle in collegiate green, to be exact. (The Daily Mail has an exhaustive report.) … Transport Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND, sporting a purple outfit in the House of Commons that looked familiar. Rogers Communications chief corporate affairs officer NAVDEEP BAINS, schmoozing with MPs during the throne speech — and again later in West Block. Movers and shakers: RANDALL ZALAZAR made the jump from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to Amazon, where he started this week as manager of public policy. TRIVIA Tuesday's answer: Ottawa's Union Station, which eventually became the Government Conference Centre and now houses the Senate, ceased to operate as a railway station in 1966. Props to SCOTT MCCORD, LAURA GARFINKEL, DARRYL DAMUDE, JONATHAN MOSER, MALCOLM MCKAY, LAURA JARVIS, SEAN SUNDERLAND, JENN KEAY, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, JENI ARMSTRONG, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, MICHAEL HORNAK, PHILLIP BLANCHER, JOHN PEPPER, RAY DEL BIANCO, YAROSLAV BARAN, ELIZABETH BURN, MARCEL MARCOTE, MELISSA COTTON and ANDREW SZENDE. Wednesday's question: 'The only certainty about him is that he was young,' then-Governor General ADRIENNE CLARKSON said in a eulogy delivered on this date in history. On what occasion was she speaking? Answers to canadaplaybook@
USA Today
4 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' could ban states from regulating AI for a decade
Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' could ban states from regulating AI for a decade Show Caption Hide Caption House passes President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' The House passed President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.' It will now move onto the Senate. President Donald Trump's massive bill package, dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' contains a proposal that could significantly waylay a burgeoning movement to regulate artificial intelligence on the state level. The ban is tucked into a section of the bill that would allocate $500 million over the next 10 years to modernize government systems with the help of AI and automation technologies. The ban would not only prevent new state-led regulations of AI but would also block dozens of states from enforcing preexisting AI regulations and oversight structures. The 1,000-plus-page legislation pushed forward by Republicans passed in the House by just one vote on May 22, sending it off to the Senate. Though Republicans hope to finalize the tax and policy bill by the end of July in order to avoid a debt default, it's still a ways off from becoming law, as the GOP navigates a slim majority amid party infighting over several key elements of the bill. Though misgivings center on Medicaid, tax cuts and government spending, a few high-profile Republican lawmakers have signaled the proposed AI regulation ban is also a point of friction. Trump's bill: Tax policy bill clears the House. Next up: An opinionated Senate Regulation of artificial intelligence is often likened to a wild west of sorts, as governments across the country and the globe race to keep up with the rapidly evolving technology. AI itself has proved to be an enticing tool for public and private organizations – so much so that adoption of the tech far outpaces many governments' ability to implement laws and frameworks meant to prevent misuse. As it stands, there is no centralized federal oversight of AI, leaving states to attempt to regulate the technology through an uneven patchwork of legislation. Under President Joe Biden's administration, the White House introduced a now-defunct blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, taking a cue from the European Union's similarly named document. It directed state agencies to evaluate current uses and potential impacts of AI, evaluate potential AI-fueled risks and encourage state employee training on the subject. In its place is a new Trump-led AI framework, prioritizing accelerating AI innovation. The Trump administration's stance on regulation so far largely aligns with that of companies and much of the tech industry, who argue that regulation would stymie innovation. Trump and AI: President signs executive order boosting AI in K-12 schools Many regulations target AI scams, deepfakes and AI-assisted disinformation, with increasing focus on other possible harms from the technology. While there are many opportunities for AI to create positive changes, policy and advocacy organizations like the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy (CITED) warn of the same possibilities for negative impacts, necessitating regulation in some areas. "Many commentators believe that AI could soon be used by state and non-state actors to develop dangerous weapons, increase surveillance, and magnify existing biases and discrimination in a variety of fields, from lending, to hiring, to policing," CITED says in a January 2024 report. The letter's signatories include Georgetown Law's Center on Privacy and Technology, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Actors' Equity Association, Innocence Project and the National Union of Healthcare Workers, among others. Though Republicans largely expressed support for the provision in a House subcommittee hearing Wednesday, May 21, prominent Republican Republican Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee have recently pushed back on the ban. 'We certainly know that in Tennessee, we need those protections,' Blackburn said in a May 21 hearing on a bill to protect Americans from AI impersonations. 'And until we pass something that is federally preemptive, we can't call for a moratorium.' Hawley also pushed back on the proposed ban in a May 13 interview with Business Insider. 'I would think that, just as a matter of federalism, we'd want states to be able to try out different regimes that they think will work for their state,' Hawley said. 'And I think in general, on AI, I do think we need some sensible oversight that will protect people's liberties.' The argument against regulation is often one of innovation, with tech industry leaders and companies saying it could limit the technology and make the U.S. less competitive in the field. Others in support of the ban, such as Sean Heather, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, say states are moving too fast in regulating AI. "We should stop international patchworks and domestic patchworks in AI regulation," Heather said during the May 21 House subcommittee hearing. "We should not be in a rush to regulate. We need to get it right, therefore taking a time out to discuss it at a federal level is important to be able to support a moratorium." At least 45 states plus Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C., introduced AI bills in the 2024 legislative session, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Of those, over 30 states and territories passed legislation concerning AI, with Utah, Maryland and Florida passing regulatory and AI oversight acts. Across seven states and Puerto Rico, there are 16 AI regulation bills introduced last year still pending legislative approval, and more than a dozen new regulatory proposals introduced in statehouses across the country in 2025. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Politico
5 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Royal arsenal
Presented by COVE Ocean Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Canada Playbook | Follow Politico Canada Happy Monday. Thanks for reading Canada Playbook. Let's get into it. → The PM's Trump cards? A king and queen. → First up in a high-stakes session? Electing a speaker. → Plus, DAVID PRATT shares a footnote on the Golden Dome. Trade war THE KING'S SPEECH — As King Charles arrives in Ottawa today for Tuesday's opening of Parliament, the 76-year-old British monarch — who remains Canada's head of state — will be summoning all the soft power he can muster. It is the first time a British monarch has delivered a speech from the throne since 1977 — a highly public love-bomb at a time when U.S. President DONALD TRUMP has ramped up the hostile rhetoric, lobbed tariffs Canada's way, and even flirted with annexation, POLITICO's ANNABELLE DICKSON and team report. 'This historic honor matches the weight of our times,' PM Carney said, when he announced his VIP guest. Insert eyeball emoji: The links between the royals and Canada's PM are strong, Dickson writes: 'Carney's brother SEAN is the chief operating officer at Kensington Palace — the working residence of PRINCE WILLIAM. For Charles, the trip is personal. His mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, was deeply passionate about her Commonwealth role. → It's not a risk-free strategy: Back in the U.K., it could cut across the U.K. government's focus on charming, rather than fighting, the U.S. president. Plus, royal skeptics in Canada warn it could reignite republican debate. — Call me maybe: U.S. Ambassador PETE HOEKSTRA told CBC's 'The House' that while he's 'excited for Canada' about the king's visit, there are easier ways to get a message to Washington. 'Just give me a call,' he said. 'Carney can call the president at any time. Send the message.' Oh, and Canada should get over the '51st state' thing, he told host CATHERINE CULLEN. 'If the Canadians want to keep talking about it, that's their business. I'm not talking about it. Donald Trump is not talking about it.' — News you can use: For our Ottawa readers, the Citizen has a roundup of street closures over the next two days while King Charles and Queen Camilla are in town. — In case you need it: The royal itinerary is here. — In related reading: The Globe's MARIE WOOLF reports that Bloc Québécois MPs are reviving a bid to end the centuries-old requirement to pledge loyalty to the monarch before they take their seats in Parliament. The Star's ROBERT BENZIE reports on a turn in the polls for the monarchy in Canada. 'A Trump bump has turned the Crown frowns upside down,' he writes. Talk of the town SEE YOU TOMORROW — One sleep left until the 'House-warming' party hosted by the Métropolitain, Earnscliffe Strategies and your friends at POLITICO. Shortly after KING CHARLES III's throne speech in the Senate, the fishbowl gathers to renew acquaintances after a frenzied five months. We anticipate schmoozing with purpose, given the Hill-wide job board is bursting. — Update your calendar: The fun starts when the pomp down the street winds down. The Met is welcoming guests as early as 5 p.m. NEXT UP: TRIVIA NIGHT — Our next Playbook Trivia Night is booked for Monday, June 2 at the Met. Time: Doors open at 7 p.m. First round starts at 7:30. — Registration is open now. Space is limited. RSVP via this Google Form THREE THINGS WE'RE WATCHING DIVISION BELLS — When the House returns at 8 a.m. today, the first order of business will be the election of the House of Commons speaker. Dean of the House Bloc Québécois MP LOUIS PLAMONDON, first elected Sept. 4, 1984, will preside over the vote since he has the longest unbroken record of service. — In the speaker race: Liberal MPs GREG FERGUS, SEAN CASEY, ALEXANDRA MENDÈS, ROB OLIPHANT, FRANCIS SCARPALEGGIA and SHERRY ROMANADO, plus Conservative MPs JOHN NATER and CHRIS D'ENTREMONT. — On Sunday: Prime Minister MARK CARNEY and Conservative Leader PIERRE POILEVRE rallied their respective caucuses with campaign-like speeches. 'We're going to have to do things previously thought impossible, at speeds not seen in generations,' Carney told his caucus before they closed doors to meet in private. 'It's my solemn commitment to work with all of you — to seize this moment for Canadians, to build big, to build bold, to build together, to build now.' — Liberal priorities: Carney said the first order of business for his government would be to introduce legislation to implement a middle-class tax cut and eliminate the GST for first-time homebuyers. He also vowed major defense spending increases to meet NATO's 2 percent target. He made no mention of a budget, which is now expected in the fall. — For your scorecard: JAMES MALONEY was elected Liberal caucus chair. The Canadian Press reports: A majority of the caucus voted down a motion to adopt rules set out under the Reform Act. — The Conservatives' list: 'We've got to get the cost of living down, and we're going to be demanding a spring budget that reveals the true deficit,' Poilievre said Sunday. During the campaign, Carney liked to say 'a slogan is not a plan.' In his remarks, Poilievre redirected the jab back at the PM. 'That is a slogan,' Poilievre pointed out. 'But I'll tell you what a plan is. A budget is … literally a plan.' Poilievre said he and the Conservatives will cooperate with Carney to bring an end to tariffs imposed by the United States. HAIL TO THE CHIEFS — This week we'll learn more about who is who in the offices of Carney's Cabinet ministers. EMILY HAWS of the Globe managed to get her hands on an internal email detailing the first dozen assignments. — Also TBD: We'll soon find out who has been tapped to sit on the Board of Internal Economy, the governing body of the House. We know for sure that Government House Leader STEVEN MACKINNON and Liberal MP RACHEL BENDAYAN will be there. The mighty PROC — the House procedure committee — will also be appointed. READY, SET … OH, OH! — Canada's rookie PM will make his Question Period debut Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. — a weekday spectacle fueled by outrage in pursuit of clickbait. Remember when Speaker GREG FERGUS got heckled while preaching about House decorum? No amount of global economic experience could prepare the PM for the high-decibel free-for-all of QP. On the upside, he won't have to square off against Poilievre until fall. Download our mobile app to save stories, get updates on Canada politics and the U.S.-Canada trade war, and more. In iOS or Android . Where the leaders are Prime Minister MARK CARNEY has an audience with KING CHARLES at Rideau Hall. Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE won't be in the House of Commons, but ANDREW SCHEER is expected to be there. Bloc Québécois Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET will meet his caucus and hold an afternoon press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons. Interim NDP Leader DON DAVIES has not released his public itinerary. Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY will attend Parliament in person. Trade war GOING BALLISTIC — DAVID PRATT only spent six months as Canada's defense minister but he still managed to start something that has major ripples today as President Trump and the PM consider Canada's role in the president's Golden Dome missile shield. — Known unknowns: Pratt told Playbook that he sent a letter to then-U.S. Defense Secretary DONALD RUMSFELD in January 2004 proposing to negotiate Canada's entry into the Pentagon's Ballistic Missile Defense Shield. → Looking good, until: 'There seemed to be, at least to me and with the Prime Minister [PAUL MARTIN], as well, significant support for this within the Cabinet,' Pratt said. But domestic politics intervened when the June 28, 2004, election reduced the Martin government to a minority. The NDP held the balance of power and leader JACK LAYTON shared a message with Martin: Kill BMD or your government falls. In February 2005, Martin just said no to President GEORGE W. BUSH. → Local politics: 'The Martin government wanted to survive, and it needed the NDP support for that,' Pratt recalled. 'There was a fairly significant portion of the Liberal caucus that just had an allergy to George Bush and didn't want to get close for that reason.' — Yesterday is today: Pratt says Golden Dome is 'unrealistic' given that it aims to protect such a huge land mass and has a massive initial price tag of $175 billion. Full disclosure: Pratt is now a defense industry consultant and lobbyist, but he says he has no clients linked to Golden Dome. 'I'm speaking about this issue as a former MND and someone whose position on missile defense has not changed in 20 years,' he says. — Historical footnote: Pratt lost his seat in that 2004 campaign to a Conservative staffer named PIERRE POILIEVRE. — Now what?: DAVID PERRY, the president of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute tells Playbook it was a mistake for Canada to opt out of BMD in 2005. 'We've decided that we don't want to defend ourselves against ballistic missiles,' Perry said. 'So, if somebody aimed one of them at Parliament Hill, we'd ostensibly let it go boom. No one else would want to create that kind of insane dynamic.' MORNING MUST-CLICKS — From POLITICO's DANIEL DESROCHERS and PHELIM KINE: Foreign countries pan trade offers from Trump White House. — MEGHAN POTKINS, BARBARA SHECTER and JOE O'CONNOR of the National Post profile TIM HODGSON, Canada's new energy minister. They note: 'Whether Hodgson can channel his experience on Bay and Wall Streets to defuse those tensions [with Alberta and Saskatchewan] and produce real results that satisfy the oilpatch without abandoning Liberal climate commitments could be a make-or-break question for the new government.' — 'Uncertainty has come down. But look, it's still elevated. There's still work to do,' Bank of Canada Governor TIFF MACKLEM tells MARK RENDELL in a Q&A on inflation, tariff relief and what it's like working alongside his former boss at the Bank. — DAVID THURTON of CBC News reports on the NDP's last-ditch efforts that tried to save JAGMEET SINGH and his riding. — The Canadian Press notes that talks between Canada Post and negotiators from its union are expected to resume over the next few days. PROZONE For Pro subscribers, our latest policy newsletter: Canada and the U.S.: 'Golden Dome' buddies? In other news for Pro readers: — Trump grants extension to European Union on tariff hike. — Trump to appoint oil and gas industry veteran as Alaska adviser. — MAHA targets environmental chemicals. — US carbon tariffs wouldn't cut global emissions, report says. PLAYBOOKERS Birthdays: Bonne fête to Quebec Premier FRANÇOIS LEGAULT, former Foreign Minister JOHN BAIRD and former MPs DENIS LEBEL and ROBERT AUBIN. ANJA KARADEGLIJA of The Canadian Press also celebrates today. Noted: A judicial recount has confirmed Conservative KATHY BORRELLI won the riding of Windsor—Tecumseh—Lake Shore by four votes. A recount in Terra Nova-The Peninsulas found that Conservative JONATHAN ROWE won the riding over Liberal ANTHONY GERMAIN by 12 votes. And the Bloc Québécois has filed a Superior Court challenge to overturn results in Terrebonne after losing by one vote. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has mandate letters for the Carney Cabinet. Royal Roads University has named its new campus in Langford after the late JOHN HORGAN, honoring the former B.C. premier and ambassador to Germany. Movers and shakers: The Canadian Tax Observatory is on the hunt for a founding CEO. Former Cabinet minister ED FAST has joined the board of the Institute for Research on Public Policy. CHRISTOPHER SANDS has launched a Substack on Canada-U.S. relations. Media mentions: The Michener Awards Foundation announced its plans to award ROBERT FIFE with the Michener-Baxter Award for exceptional service to Canadian public service journalism. Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way. TRIVIA Friday's answer: On May 18, 2016, then-Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU apologized in the House for the the Komagata Maru tragedy. Props to AMY SCANLON BOUGHNER, MARC LEBLANC, SARAH ANDREWS, YAROSLAV BARAN, DAVID GRANOVSKY, CHARLES DILLON, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, DARREN MAJOR, LAURA JARVIS, RAY DEL BIANCO, JEFFREY VALOIS, DARRYL DAMUDE and MARCEL MARCOTTE. Today's question: Before the Speech from the Throne, what bill will receive first reading in the House? Send your answer to canadaplaybook@ Canada Playbook would not happen without: Canada Editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and POLITICO's Grace Maalouf.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Easier ways to send messages' to Trump than bringing in the King: U.S. ambassador
The new U.S. ambassador to Canada says he knows the implication of King Charles III's upcoming trip to Ottawa is to push back on U.S. President Donald Trump's 51st state threats — and he says there are "easier ways to send messages" to the American government. "We're thrilled that the king will be here," said U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, in an interview with CBC's The House that will air Saturday. "If there's a message in there, there's easier ways to send messages. Just give me a call. [Mark] Carney can call the president at any time." Hoekstra added that the annexation saga is "over." "Move on. If the Canadians want to keep talking about it — that's their business. I'm not talking about it; Donald Trump is not talking about it. We've got too much on our plate to move forward because we're all about increasing America's prosperity, safety and security." On Tuesday, King Charles will deliver the speech from the throne in the Senate. Every new session of Parliament is opened by a throne speech, which lays out the government's expected goals and how it plans to achieve them. The King's visit will mark the third time a British and Canadian monarch has read the speech from the throne in Canada, with Queen Elizabeth ll having delivered the speech in 1957 and 1977. Hoekstra said the U.S. government will be listening closely to "the content of the speech because it is the platform of the ruling party." King Charles will deliver the speech at about 11 a.m. ET and it's expected to take between 20 and 25 minutes. The U.S. ambassador also said "if there's going to be any discussion about the 51st state, it's going to be happening at the Donald Trump-Carney level, not at ambassadorial level, which tells me it's done." Hoekstra said his understanding is that trade and tariff negotiations are underway between Canada and the United States, but he doesn't know how intense they are at this point. Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Trump in the Oval Office earlier this month and discussed the economic and security relationship with the U.S. president, but the Canadians have insisted any deal must include the U.S. lifting its tariffs. Hoekstra said after the Carney-Trump summit, the U.S. president called on the Canadians to send a proposal about the tariffs."We're waiting, I think, and believing that the ball is in Canada's court to outline what they would like to do, maybe some proposals and those types of things," the U.S. ambassador added. Other countries around the world affected by U.S. tariffs have sent their own ideas to the Trump administration, which is pushing to get deals done and has no time for a drawn-out negotiation process, he said. On Wednesday, Carney said in French the U.S. is an economic threat to Canada — which Hoekstra pushed back on during his interview. "My opinion of that would be a little bit different," Hoekstra said. "The United States of America is a huge economic opportunity for Canada. It already is. You're our second-largest trading partner." Overall, Hoekstra said the United States is no longer going to support other countries at the expense of the American people. "We are going to be negotiating in the best interest of America and the American people. "We expect other countries to do the same thing in negotiations, and that actually will give us the best kind of agreements."
NBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Trump administration live updates: House passes sweeping GOP agenda bill;
What to know today The House passed a massive legislative package this morning to advance Donald Trump's agenda, a major victory for the president and House leadership. The budget bill would extend the expiring tax cut enacted during Trump's first term and increase military and immigration enforcement spending. The domestic policy package also would slash Medicaid and increase the cap on the federal deduction for state and local taxes, provisions sought by the conservative House Freedom Caucus and blue-state Republicans, respectively. Two Israel embassy staff were shot and killed in Washington, D.C., last night night. The suspect shouted 'Free, free Palestine' while in custody, according to police.
