Good morning. King Charles III asserted Canada’s sovereignty in a transformative time – more on the Throne Speech below, along with aid deliveries in Gaza and an arrest in Liverpool. But first:
Today’s headlines
- Sources say Prime Minister Mark Carney has invited Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to attend the G7 Leaders Summit
- A London police detective told one of the accused in Hockey Canada trial he had no plans to charge him in 2018
- This study shows Ontario has more physicians, but fewer are taking patients
King Charles delivers the Speech from the Throne in the Senate on May 27.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
Politics
Doubling down on Canada’s sovereignty
Written by the Prime Minister’s Office in consultation with the King’s office, the Throne Speech set out the government’s priorities for the current session of Parliament.
Carney invited the King to read the speech after he won the Liberal Party leadership – and in the midst of U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about making Canada a 51st state. Here are some of the highlights from the day.
“The True North is indeed strong and free”
It was sprinkled throughout the speech, and said in different ways, but this quote from King Charles plainly displays one of the day’s major talking points: reasserting Canada’s sovereignty.
“I have always had the greatest admiration for Canada’s unique identity, which is recognized across the world,” he said. The King offered promises of a better future, less dependent on the U.S. He spoke to the importance of the monarchy to Canadian history, as a symbol of unity.
His visit also reaffirmed support for Indigenous rights and truth and reconciliation. He started off with a land acknowledgement and made several references to Canada’s Indigenous history.
We’re shifting to big-picture economics
The speech kept coming back to economics. Breaking down trade barriers between provinces. Making life affordable. Building more of everything. And building it all faster.
We are in the “largest transformation in the Canadian economy since the Second World War,” the King said. He touted Liberal government promises, such as a middle-class tax cut and fast approvals of major infrastructure projects. Canada also committed to joining the ReArm Europe plan.
The King said the government’s “core mission” will be building the strongest economy in the G7. Economics reporter Nojoud Al Mallees has a full analysis on the broad aspirations.
The momentous occasion and who attended
Usually the King’s representative in Canada, the governor-general, delivers the Throne Speech. But this year we got the King himself to do it.
It has only been read twice before by the reigning monarch. Queen Elizabeth II did it in 1957 and 1977, making it one of the few times a Prime Minister gets to put words in the mouth of a monarch.
Feature writer Shannon Proudfoot was fortunate to get one of the 16 allotted media seats in the Senate, privy to unparalleled political people watching.
She saw everyone mill about on the scarlet, leaf-flecked carpet. To name a few: former prime ministers Justin Trudeau, Stephen Harper and Kim Campbell; former governors-general; premiers Wab Kinew and Ranj Pillai and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed.
Among all the pageantry thousands came to greet the royal couple this week, many of them new to the country, some new even to the idea of a monarchy.
There was more symbolism than you realized
A visit to National War Memorial, for example, underlined Canada’s resiliency to outside threats. Red wool uniforms, pith helmets of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment – every part of the ceremony was designed to emphasize Canada’s heritage, writes Royal family expert Patricia Treble.
Then there’s fashion. The royal couple dressed in matching deep blue, presenting a calm and unified front. They kept it low-key: The King pinned his Canadian medals onto a pin-striped suit rather than military dress. Camilla went for a hat rather than a tiara.
Trudeau kept it casual too, sporting blue and orange Adidas sneakers to the function.
A view of former prime minister Justin Trudeau's Adidas shoes.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Read more
- Catch up: The full day’s events are here.
- Labour: Groups are expressing concern over plans to find public service savings.
- In Britain: The speech was praised for defending Canada without treading on U.S.-U.K. relations.
- Campbell Clark: The moment is the message.
- Andrew Cohen: King Charles’s visit to Canada was a show of weakness, not strength
Coming up next
- Wednesday is the first Question Period of this session (and Carney’s first)
- Next week, the Prime Minister will meet with premiers in Saskatoon after he asked them to submit an infrastructure wish list.
- G7 leaders will gather in Kananaskis, Alta., June 15-17.
- This summer’s session of the House will be short, with only 20 sitting days.
The shot
‘As much as I want to go ... I am afraid’
Palestinians carry boxes containing food and aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in Rafah on May 27, 2025.Abdel Kareem Hana/The Associated Press
Thousands of Palestinians crowded sites where aid was being distributed by a foundation backed by the U.S. and Israel. Desperation for food overcame any concern about biometric and other checks, as Gaza has been pushed toward famine, with some families being forced to search through garbage for food.
The Wrap
What else we’re following
At home: Canadians are missing more payments, according to Equifax analysis.
Abroad: The driver in the Liverpool car ramming was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The birds: Dr. Oz offers to save B.C. ostriches facing cull by relocating them to his ranch in Florida.
The Boys: An oral history of the 1980s documentary that captured Edmonton Oilers at their peak.
Callout: On Thursday, film editor Barry Hertz will answer your questions about the Cannes Film Festival.