Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Prime Minister Mark Carney cautioned Alberta not to repeat the mistakes of Britain’s Brexit referendum, calling the pitch for separation from Canada a dangerous proposition.
Marieke Walsh and Sarah J. Harb report that Carney today made his strongest criticism to date of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s plan to hold a vote on whether the province should remain in Canada or launch a formal secession referendum this fall.
“Is it helpful to ask these fundamental questions? No, it’s not helpful. Of course it’s not,” he said. “Is it the democratic will of Albertans? Did they vote for this in the last provincial election? No, they didn’t.”
Carney said that Smith’s United Conservative Party did not campaign on this in the previous election and did not have it as part of its election platform.
He also warned against believing separatists who say that a “yes” vote would strengthen their hands in future negotiations.
“That is a very dangerous bluff,” he said twice.
In other news, Caroline Mulroney says she is stepping away from elected politics for the next few years, after she announced her intention to resign from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet and from her seat in the Ontario Legislature next month.
Laura Stone reports that the departure of the province’s Treasury Board President – daughter of late prime minister Brian Mulroney and one of the highest-profile members of Ford’s inner circle – will trigger a by-election in her riding of York-Simcoe, north of Toronto, and likely a cabinet shuffle at a later date.
Mulroney told reporters at Queen’s Park today that she made her decision to leave months ago but wanted to wait until the budgetary process and the parliamentary session were over to announce her next move.
“I’m ruling out any steps into elected politics over the next few years,” she said, standing alongside one of her daughters, Thea.
“I really am looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends.”
She added that she plans to return to the private sector in the future.
In other Ontario politics news, Laura Stone reports that Navdeep Bains, who served as federal innovation minister under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, has entered the race to lead the Ontario Liberals.
The Ontario Liberal Party confirmed today that Bains, who did not seek re-election in 2021 and was a chief, corporate affairs officer at Rogers Communications until leaving that post earlier this month, has officially registered with Elections Ontario and has been greenlit by the party as a candidate.
Bains was featured in a social-media posting today in which he sits down in a chair and rolls up his sleeves, with the caption, “Let’s Get To Work.”
Liberal MP Karina Gould, who had considered a run for the party leadership, said the prospect of Bains running is fantastic.
“I encouraged him to run. I think he’s a fantastic politician, but he also has a great background in business. He has a really great story to tell, and I think he’s ready to lead for Ontario, and I think he’s ready to put the province back on track,” Gould, who represents the riding of Burlington, said after Question Period.
Prime Minister Mark Carney shakes hands with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary on May 15.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow to run for re-election: Chow, a 69-year-old former NDP parliamentarian first elected as mayor in 2023, says she plans to continue focusing on her work as mayor right now, with “plenty of time for campaigning in the fall.”
Indian commerce minister visits Ottawa for trade talks: Piyush Goyal says Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent visit to his country paved the way for a complete overhaul of the Canada-India relationship.
Ottawa-Alberta pipeline deal includes cancellation fee critics say is too low: The capped liability acts as an exit ramp for any government that would prefer to pay the fee rather than expose industry to the higher costs it must bear through the new climate plan.
Ontario doctor cautioned over MAID complaints can continue practice under supervision, regulator rules: One patient of James MacLean’s resumed breathing after being declared dead. Another was assessed for dying outside a Tim Horton’s, a probe finds.
Western Premiers meet after Smith announces vote on secession question: Premiers gathered in Kananaskis, west of Calgary, for a meeting set for today and Tuesday – the annual Western premiers conference.
Prime Minister shouldn’t live on Rideau Hall grounds, outgoing Governor-General says: In a wide-ranging interview to mark her departure as Governor-General, Mary Simon said Rideau Hall stands as the residence and office of a representative of the Crown, and the Prime Minister, as a leader of government, should live elsewhere.
New Ontario Science Centre to open by 2029, Ford says: Premier Doug Ford says the ground has been officially broken on the $1-billion project at Ontario Place.
On our radar
Commons returns: The House of Commons is sitting again today after a two-week break.
Prime Minister’s Day: In Ottawa, Mark Carney toured a homebuilding site and held a news conference. In the afternoon, Carney met with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim. Carney also spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
The Prime Minister’s Office has announced that Carney will visit New York City on Wednesday and Thursday to meet with investors, including top CEOs, entrepreneurs, business leaders and capital managers, and deliver remarks to the Economic Club of New York.
Party Leaders: In Ottawa, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May participated in a panel on the 75th anniversary of the Adventure in Citizenship program, held by the Rotary Club of Ottawa, attended a related luncheon reception, then was at the House of Commons. No schedules released for other party leaders.
Ministers on the Road:
In Toronto, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon announced about $16.5-million for 13 businesses and organizations across the Greater Toronto Area to facilitate AI adoption and bring new AI technologies to market faster:
In Brampton, Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and secretary of state for small business and tourism, announced more than $77.5-million in funding to extend projects for 395 organizations across Canada, working in areas of gender equality, safety and opportunities.
Ottawa mayor seeks another term: Former broadcaster Mark Sutcliffe registered at the city’s election office to seek a second term as Ottawa’s mayor. The incumbent held a news conference today after an event at the Ottawa Elections Office. Other candidates in the race include city councillor Jeff Leiper and homebuilder Alex Lawson. Voting day is Oct. 26.
Public Opinion, Alberta Separation: Three-in-five respondents of a survey by the Angus Reid Institute say they’d vote in October to stay, but half say the question is “confusing.”
Quote of the Day
“In these separation issues, it is often advanced that, `Vote for this and it’s a free option. Vote for this and we will strengthen our hand in a future negotiation.’ That is a very dangerous bluff. That is a very dangerous bluff. … We have to be very careful about this. There’s a very strong positive case for Canada, a strong Alberta in a united Canada. We’re making it stronger by working together and I look forward to making that case with many, many other Albertans and Canadians over the course of the next 150 days.” - Prime Minister Mark Carney, during a news conference today in Ottawa, talks about the risk associated with the Alberta sovereignty referendum.
Question period
The National Capital Commission in the Ottawa region manages six official residences. Which one is open to public visitors?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
The moment is not quite ready to meet Pierre Poilievre
Is Mr. Poilievre the right messenger for that moment, when it arrives? No, if the version of Mr. Poilievre that shows up is the apple-munching creator of nicknames and memes.
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
Danielle Smith tries to blame 700,000 illusory Albertans for her separatism gambit
A fringe separatist faction helped to make Ms. Smith the Leader of the United Conservative Party in 2022, and she’s spent the last couple of years smoothing the road for their cause, all while insisting from the other side of her mouth that she supports “a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.”
— Shannon Proudfoot, Feature Writer
The Canadian Armed Forces are right to experiment around recruitment
Instead of tweaking the selection standards, the military should establish entry and basic training standards tailored to recruits’ chosen trades, which would help restore historical training success rates without reducing overall enrolment.
— Charlotte Duval-Lantoine is the vice-president of Ottawa Operations and a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute Richard Shimooka is a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
Go deeper
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
- Get the latest insight and analysis from our political opinion writers
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The answer to today’s question: Rideau Hall, the official residence and workplace of governors-general since 1867. The others are not open. They are 7 Rideau Gate, Stornoway, Harrington Lake, 24 Sussex Drive and The Farm – a rural residence of the Speaker of the House of Commons. Details here.