Good morning. Canada is set to announce it will hit NATO’s 2-per-cent military spending goal, just in time for the target to shift. More on that below, plus DHL’s lockout and what to wear to weddings this season. Let’s get to it.
A helicopter lands at an air strip in Inuvik, NWT, on March 1.COLE BURSTON/AFP/Getty Images
TOP STORY
Canada’s defence spending will hit 2-per-cent NATO target
The latest: Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to announce today that he is boosting defence funding and Canada will meet NATO’s 2-per-cent military spending target this fiscal year. It is a significant change in tone compared with the election campaign, when the Liberals pledged to accelerate efforts and reach the 2-per-cent threshold by 2030.
Context: Carney is preparing for a NATO leaders summit on June 24 and 25, where countries are expected to commit to higher military spending. Defence experts have estimated it would require $15-billion to $20-billion in additional annual military spending for Canada to reach the 2-per-cent target.
What’s next: NATO defence ministers concluded a meeting last week to lay the groundwork for the coming summit, where Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he expects member countries will agree to a new defence-spending target of 5 per cent of annual economic output.
Protesters and law enforcement face off in L.A. Friday.Barbara Davidson/Reuters
World
Trump sends the National Guard to immigration protests in LA
The latest: Yesterday, National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles on orders from U.S. President Donald Trump to stamp out protests that started on Friday against federal immigration authorities seeking to carry out deportations. Tensions were already high on Saturday after a series of sweeps by immigration authorities.
What’s next: Trump says he is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles – over the objections of Governor Gavin Newsom. It marked the first time in decades that a state’s national guard was activated without a request from its governor, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
It's wedding season.Getty Images/Getty Images
How We Live
How to pick a guest outfit this wedding season
The latest: If you’re headed to one or more weddings this summer and are not sure what to wear, start with the dress code and the venue. Fashion stylist Erica Wark says the location – say, at a barn, or the Four Seasons, for example – should contribute to the vibe of the overall theme. Here’s how to pick the perfect outfit for any occasion – or two.
Read more:
- Why couples are turning their big day into social-media content
- Why are so many couples having two weddings?
- How a hot Italian saved my son’s wedding day
Reader question: Wedding guests, what made the best (or worst) wedding you’ve ever attended?
Wildfires
Ottawa is sending armed forces to support evacuations
The latest: Military support is being sent for evacuations in northwestern Ontario, as raging wildfires spread across the country. The Canadian Armed Forces will airlift nearly 3,000 people from Sandy Lake First Nation, where a large fire is approaching the remote fly-in community.
Elsewhere: Rain and cooler temperatures on the Prairies are offering little respite from the flames. Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been under states of emergency for more than a week, while officials in Alberta and British Columbia have warned that weather conditions could intensify fire activity in the days ahead.
Also read: Major Canadian cities are on air-quality alert as the western fires continue to burn. Here’s a primer on the risks and how to protect yourself.
Labour
DHL Express locks out workers
The latest: The union representing workers at DHL Express Canada says the company has locked them out in the middle of a dispute over changes to its compensation structure. Unifor takes issue with DHL’s plans to use replacement workers before a law banning them takes effect later this month.
What’s next: The dispute comes as Canada Post remains at an impasse with 55,000 workers. Should the DHL work stoppage continue until June 20, it could also serve as an early test of new labour legislation for federally regulated employers.
Bookmarked
- Israel-Gaza: Israel vows to stop aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists from reaching Gaza.
- Trade: From retaliation to negotiation – How Canada’s U.S. trade strategy is shifting under Carney.
- For your finances: The stock market has detached itself from the real world, investing reporter Tim Shufelt writes.
- Conversation starter: Robert Macfarlane’s new book asks a question he couldn’t ignore: Is a river alive?
- History: The study of Canada’s recent past has become ‘almost impossible.’ Will a new national archives change things for the better?
The Quote
We’ve failed terribly at having necessary, nuanced and uncomfortable conversations with boys and young men about sex, consent, pleasure and healthy relationships. We don’t give them skills to stand up against cruelty.
The Hockey Canada trial shows how we need to be talking to young men, Rachel Giese writes. She is the author of Boys: What It Means to Become a Man.
The Shot
Mac Boucher (right) with caddy Brad Boyle, await their turn as part of the Canadian Open on June 4.Sarah Espedido/The Globe and Mail
At least on social media, Mac Boucher has become the most popular Canadian golfer at PGA events without actually being a part of the PGA Tour. Whether shooting for the fairway or Instagram, he always takes the creative approach.