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Calgary Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
John Ivison: Liberals finally manage a serious throne speech, free of Trudeau's divisive virtue-signalling
There is an inherent absurdity to the speech from the throne, where the monarch, or his representative, recites a prepared text written by an anonymous partisan (although, such is the current ubiquity of the prime minister it would be no surprise if the author was one M. Carney). Article content King Charles made a decent effort at putting his own spin on things by pointing out that he has made 20 visits to Canada over the past 50 years but this was his first as the sovereign. Article content Article content With the limited amount of daylight allowed to alight on the magic of the monarchy, it is hard to tell, but the King and Queen Camilla appeared genuinely pleased to be in Ottawa. Charles was certainly more engaged than his late father, who on the 1969 inauguration of an annex to Vancouver City Hall, once said: 'I declare this thing open — whatever it is'. Article content Article content Lexicologists poring over the speech in the hope of finding a blunt rebuttal to President Donald Trump's ambitions of making Canada the 51st state were destined to be disappointed. Fears from unnamed British ministers quoted by The Times that Canada would drag the monarch into an unsightly spat with the president proved groundless. Article content The King concluded by saying his visit had reminded him that 'the True North is indeed strong and free,' reinforcing the message to the White House that Canada is not for sale. Article content Article content But the speech did not go beyond the language used by Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals during and since the recent election campaign. Article content Article content The system of open trade and relations with partners are changing, the King said, reading the government's speech. 'We must be clear-eyed — the world is more dangerous and uncertain than at any point since the Second World War.' Article content Canadians are anxious and worried but the moment creates an opportunity for renewal 'to think big and act bigger.' Article content 'A confident Canada can seize this opportunity and give ourselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away.' Article content The King said the prime minister and the U.S. president are defining a new economic and security relationship 'rooted in mutual respect and founded in common interest to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.'
CBC
03-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Condolence books set up in Vancouver and Victoria for Lapu-Lapu Day victims
As part of the province's day of mourning for victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day festival tragedy, books of condolences were set up in Vancouver and Victoria. Pinki Wong headed to Vancouver City Hall to hear from those signing the book there on Friday.
CBC
02-05-2025
- General
- CBC
B.C. marking day of mourning for victims of Lapu-Lapu Day festival tragedy
Social Sharing Events are taking place across British Columbia to remember those who died in the Lapu-Lapu Day festival tragedy in East Vancouver on Saturday evening. The B.C. government has declared Friday an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy, which saw 11 people killed and dozens more injured when the driver of an SUV rammed into the crowd at a Filipino street festival. Community groups, in particular the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, have plans to mark the occasion. The public can sign a book of condolences in the main lobby of Vancouver City Hall starting Friday through to May 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also share a message of condolence online. The public is also welcome to sign a book of condolences at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria. Matthew Furtado, director of communications for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, says several Catholic parishes will host memorial masses and prayer vigils to honour those lost in the tragedy. "In our faith tradition, we really understand the importance of coming together in times of grief, in times of end of life, in times of sickness," Furtado told CBC News. "A memorial mass in the Catholic tradition is not just a time to look behind, but also a time to look ahead, that we believe in eternal life." Archbishop J. Michael Miller will lead a memorial mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver at 5 p.m. Friday for people directly affected by the tragedy. CBC News will livestream the mass. St. Mary's Parish in East Vancouver is also holding a candlelight prayer vigil and pilgrimage to the site of the tragedy, starting at 4 p.m. Friday. Other memorial masses in B.C. include: Friday St. Andrew's Cathedral, Victoria, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Immaculate Conception Parish, Delta, 9 a.m. St. Andrew's Parish, Vancouver, 11:30 a.m. St. Joseph's Parish, Langley, 6:15 p.m. Monday St. Francis de Sales Parish, Burnaby, 6 p.m. Furtado says Archbishop Miller has called for a collection to be taken up this weekend at all Catholic parishes in support of the families and survivors of the tragedy. Candlelight vigils will also take place at the Chilliwack Central Community Park on Friday at 7 p.m., and Langara College on Sunday at 7 p.m. A 30-year-old, Adam Kai-Ji Lo, faces eight counts of second-degree murder in connection to the crash, although police have said more charges may come as their investigation continues.
