Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Mark Carney passed a key milestone in settling into the role of Prime Minister today, taking his first questions in Question Period.
Sitting beside Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Carney rose to thank his constituents in the Ottawa-area riding of Nepean, and congratulate Francis Scarpaleggia on becoming Speaker.
“I trust that you’re operating in a period of grace that will not be accorded to me,” he said.
The first question did not come from federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, but rather Andrew Scheer, who is leading the party in the Commons while Poilievre seeks a seat after losing his Ottawa riding in the recent federal election.
“I would like to welcome the prime minister to his first official Question Period. This is where democracy lives and this is where we provide rigorous scrutiny on every word he says and every dollar he spends on behalf of Canadians,” Scheer said.
Carney responded to questions on issues such as his government’s policy of tariffs against the United States, the timing of the next federal budget, and climate change from Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus.
Stephanie Levitz and Emily Haws report here.
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks to the House of Commons for Question Period, on May 28.Blair Gable/Reuters
What else is going on
Senior Canadian diplomat calls Trump’s missile pitch a `protection racket’: The comments from Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, are notable because Canadian diplomats and government officials have abstained from criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump publicly since the president imposed a multitude of tariffs on Canada.
Ford offers amendments to First Nations on mining bill: But Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government will still pass Bill 5, which would allow it the designation of “special economic zones” where it could suspend any provincial law – including environmental or labour rules.
Defence Minister promises `immediate and decisive action’ to rebuild military: David McGuinty’s statement at a defence industry trade show today comes after the Liberal government signaled plans to join a major European defence procurement pact soon.
Quebec business groups seek 11th-hour relief from language-law deployment: The Retail Council of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business say Quebec needs to show flexibility with its new law, commonly known as Bill 96.
Sir John A. Macdonald statue to be uncovered at Queen’s Park, sparking new tensions with First Nations: The decision, pushed by Progressive Conservative and Liberal members of a legislative committee, will see the structure that has hidden a statue of Canada’s first prime minister on the Ontario Legislature’s front lawn for five years removed this summer.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: Mark Carney attended a Liberal caucus meeting and later attended Question Period, his first as prime minister.
Party Leaders: Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, in the Commons, delivered a response to the Throne Speech. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a news conference at the Commons. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May attended the House of Commons. No schedule released for NDP Interim Leader Don Davies.
Donation to the King’s Trust: The federal government has announced a $50,000 donation to the King’s Trust Canada to commemorate the Royal visit to Canada this week. A statement described the donation as part of a longstanding tradition of recognizing visits or tours by members of the Royal Family with a meaningful gesture.
Quote of the day
“I’d love to be in there. It’s a great place. I love the House of Commons. I love the excitement and the thrill. I’ve never really been a spectator of the House,” – Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on what it is like to not be in the House of Commons, as an MP, for the first time in about 20 years.
Question period
With eight years in office as president of France, Emmanuel Macron is longest-serving leader among those set to participate in next month’s G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. But who has served the second longest among the leaders?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Carney and Ford show different paths for `unleashing’ Canada’s economy
Once again, Canadian governments are looking to Indigenous Peoples and their lands to save them. But they are coming to First Nations communities who have nothing left to lose – and everything to defend.
— Tanya Talaga, Columnist
This was the moment Charles became King of Canada, Canada became his kingdom
Perhaps this might come to be regarded as the moment we left our adolescence – when we developed a more mature relationship with our past. In the heat of the current existential crisis, it was remarkable how many people, even those not usually inclined to support the monarchy, turned instinctively to the King to speak in our defence; how instantly right it felt when it was announced that he would be delivering the Throne Speech.
— Andrew Coyne, Columnist
King Charles’s visit to Canada was a show of weakness, not strength
Mark Carney, dusted by destiny, asks us to think big about our unfinished country. And we can – beginning by making this royal visit the last, and saying adieu to the monarchy with a sigh, a shrug and a wave.
— Andrew Cohen is a journalist, a professor at Carleton University and the author of The Unfinished Canadian: The People We Are.
Go deeper
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
- Like a long read? Check out the fall of Justin Trudeau and the making of Pierre Poilievre
- Take a look at the history of immigration reporting and great political scandals from A Nation’s Paper, a book about The Globe and Mail’s role in Canadian history
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The answer to today’s question: U.S. Donald Trump. Between his first term and ongoing second term, Trump has been president for four years and 127 days. The rookie is German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been in office since May 6.