Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Conservative MPs headed into their weekly Parliament Hill meeting on Wednesday said they were united, as they stickhandled questions about Leader Pierre Poilievre’s future.
The Liberals secured a majority government with a trio of by-election wins on Monday night. Since November, five opposition MPs had crossed the floor to join their party.
With the floor-crossings and the by-election victories, the Liberals now have 174 seats, a clear majority.
Recent public polling suggests the Liberals have a commanding lead over the Conservatives, and Stephanie Levitz and Ian Bailey report that Poilievre’s MPs were asked what it could take to reverse those numbers.
Rookie Tory MP Andrew Lawton said Poilievre is already making those efforts, moving to broaden out his party’s coalition by speaking to more potential voters through channels he previously ignored, such as mainstream media outlets.
“I think this is a long game that we’re playing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney was all smiles as he arrived for his own party’s caucus meeting on Wednesday with the three new MPs.
“We have a great deal of work to do, and we approach that with humility and determination,” he said, with the new MPs – Danielle Martin, Tatiana Auguste and Doly Begum – beaming beside him.
“Canadians have placed their trust in the government’s plan. We now have reinforcements to help implement that and we’re going to go straight to work,” he said.
In other news, Culture Minister Marc Miller said the government is “very seriously” considering introducing a social media ban for kids.
Miller made the comment as he left today’s Liberal caucus meeting.
“We have some work to do, frankly, if we want to get it right. The politics ... of it are convenient, but the policy has to be right as well, and has to align with the objectives that we’re trying to achieve” he said.
At the Liberal convention in Montreal on Saturday, party members passed a non-binding resolution calling on the government to set 16 as the minimum age for access to social media accounts. Miller says the government must now study the proposal.
He added that a ban could be an important tool, but it’s not a solution to the bigger problem of online harms. The government plans to introduce an online harms bill and is consulting with an expert advisory group on what the legislation should look like.
In Quebec, Christine Fréchette has been sworn in as the province’s 33rd Premier. The leader of Coalition Avenir Québec is the second female premier after Pauline Marois of the Parti Québécois, who held the role from 2012 to 2014. Fréchette, who previously served as economy minister and immigration minister under former premier François Legault, won the CAQ leadership last weekend. The next Quebec election is in October.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rises during Question Period on Wednesday.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
Alberta government takes aim at Globe reporter over coverage of procurement scandal: Premier Danielle Smith’s government has ratcheted up its defence against allegations related to its relationship with Edmonton businessman Sam Mraiche, including by attacking a Globe and Mail journalist by name in the legislature.
Two Navy members charged in connection with sailor’s death: The charges are related to the 2025 death of a third sailor after a boating accident, the military announced Wednesday.
Canada pledges $120-million in aid for Sudan crisis as war enters its fourth year: The announcement was made on the third anniversary of the war, which has devastated Sudan, killed hundreds of thousands, forced nearly 12 million people to flee their homes and left two-thirds of its population in urgent need of aid.
Canada, Nordic countries can work together to defend the Arctic, Finnish President says: In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Alexander Stubb said U.S. President Donald Trump’s musings about annexing Greenland and the threat from Russia and have put the geopolitical spotlight on Arctic security.
IRCC orders asylum claimants who crossed the U.S. border irregularly to leave or face deportation: Immigration lawyers have expressed fears that many foreign nationals receiving warning letters from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will now cross back into the U.S. and be detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and deported.
Bracing for layoffs, these Canadians are cutting back and planning ahead: Many Canadians are finding themselves straddling shaky ground, holding onto their jobs while watching a growing number of people around them get laid off – a situation that brings distinct challenges and financial-planning hurdles.
Anand ‘very concerned’ about killing of Canadian in Lebanon: Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says she is in the process of contacting Israeli officials after the death of a Canadian in Lebanon.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: Mark Carney attended the federal Liberal caucus meeting and, later, attended Question Period.
Carney also spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressing concerns on recent school shootings in that country, and discussing turmoil in the Middle East. Turkey is hosting a NATO summit in Ankara on July 7 to 8.
Party Leaders: In Ottawa, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May virtually attended a planetary health roundtable, was at the Commons in person, and co-hosted a reception on local climate action. She also held a news conference on the Liberal majority. No schedule released for Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Avi Lewis.
Ministers on the Road: Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is in Washington today through Friday, attending a meeting of G7 and G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. He will also attend the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group.
Canada Employment Insurance Commission leadership: Chris Roberts, a former national director at the Canadian Labour Congress, has been named acting commissioner for workers for an 18-month term at the four-member commission, or until a commissioner is appointed in the role. The commission administers the Employment Insurance program.
Quote of the Day
“The Inuktitut term that I taught everyone was ullaakkut, which is good morning.” – Liberal MP Lori Idlout, who recently crossed the floor from the NDP, talks about today’s Liberal caucus meeting.
Question period
Four Canadian prime ministers have been born outside Canada. Which of those prime ministers, who governed in the last 60 years, was born outside Canada?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Leave public grocery stories on the shelf
The idea of publicly owned grocery stores resonates today, with many Canadians struggling with high food prices. However, this powerful fantasy of the left is an unhelpful distraction from the structural, if unglamorous, changes needed to help with the important issue of food affordability.
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
Ho hum, another Liberal dynasty in the making
Mr. Carney realizes the middle way is the Canadian way. Dynasties are built from there – where the bulk of Canadian voters reside. As a centrist, you’re politically in the pole position. You have a power play advantage. One of these centuries the Conservatives might realize this.
— Lawrence Martin, public affairs columnist
A moment Pierre Poilievre didn’t want to meet
The Conservative Party might be better off with three years to regroup. But it could be a very long time for Mr. Poilievre.
— Campbell Clark, chief political writer
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: John Turner, the Liberal prime minister in 1984, was born in Richmond, England.