The King delivered the Speech from the Throne yesterday, and it went about as well as expected. His French was strong, and the introduction that he wrote himself (or that his office wrote) included language about reconciliation, Canadian identity, and the parts of the country that he takes with him. The bulk of the speech was pretty predictable Mark Carney points, but it was weird hearing the King read out how much the tax cut is expected to save families. (Here are five key messages, the focus on joining ReArm Europe, and some deeper analysis).
https://bsky.app/profile/jrobson.bsky.social/post/3lq5yh6k44k2u
The responses to the speech were, frankly, rote and predictable. Pierre Poilievre complained that it didn’t spell out implementation, which no Speech does, and then demanded a whole bunch of non sequitur legislation be repealed, because he said so. The Bloc, naturally, claimed that Carney wants to centralize power and ignore Quebec’s interests. And Don Davies of the NDP said there wasn’t anything about workers in there, and called the King “foreign.” Does every opposition party in this country have to be so gods damned lazy? Is it really so difficult to actually come up with a new answer about something (while also not making up absolute bullshit, holus-bolus?)
Every bill he lists he has lied about what it actually does. Every. Single. Bill.
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-05-27T17:30:33.538Z
https://bsky.app/profile/emmettmacfarlane.com/post/3lq67lfvxic2k
Meanwhile, whether by coincidence or by design, shortly after the Kiing and Queen departed Canada, Trump declared that the price tag for Canada to join the so-called “Golden Dome” is $61 billion, but free if they become the 51st state. You know, after the new US ambassador to Canada said that the “51st state” talk was over and that we need to “move on.” Yeah, that was really going to happen.
Old enough to remember this from the new U.S. ambassador to Canada:“From my standpoint, from the president’s standpoint, 51st state’s not coming backs.”(Ten days ago.)www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/w…
— Brian Finucane (@bcfinucane.bsky.social) 2025-05-27T21:50:20.627Z
Ukraine Dispatch
The number of Russian drones attacking Ukraine fell to about 60 overnight Tuesday, but there were still several injuries.
Good reads:
- Mark Carney pushes back against the notion that the energy conversation in the country starts and ends with pipelines.
- Carney also says that any talk about renegotiating the New NAFTA will require movement on tariffs before that can happen.
- A motion tabled in the House of Commons shows the intention to fully repeal the consumer carbon levy (and lo, Poilievre claiming it’s coming back was another lie).
- Here is the story of the cadet who was the wreath-bearer for the Queen yesterday.
- Here is a look at why there were so many disputed ballots in that Newfoundland and Labrador riding.
- Jean Chrétien missed the Speech from the Throne because he was having heart surgery, getting a stent inserted after an artery was blocked.
- Mi’kmaw chiefs in Nova Scotia say the province needs to do better in their consultation process for resource projects, as they are not a box to be checked.
- The Ford government scrapped affordable housing requirements in Toronto after three real estate trust companies complained. (Look surprised, everyone!)
- Andrew Coyne hopes that the Speech was a sign that we are maturing in our relationship with our monarchy, and ready to fully become the Kingdom of Canada.
- Susan Delacourt delves into the signals being sent to Trump in the Speech.
- Paul Wells has some fairly pointed questions about some of the specific promises in the Speech, particularly given the timelines they are supposed to be operating on.
- My column recounts the election of Speaker Scarpaleggia, and pulls apart his particular comparison he made about Canada being Athens to America’s Rome.
Odds and ends:
If anyone claims that MPs want to sit into an Ottawa July, no they really don't. #Hottawa #CBCNN
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2025-05-27T17:03:48.736Z
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