Stage set for Ontario to host major summit of Canada's leaders
Carney arrived in Muskoka on Monday evening and headed to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's Muskoka cottage, where the premier hosted the country's most senior leaders for an intimate dinner.
'There's going to be a great conversation round the dinner table tonight — everyone kind of lets their hair down,' Ford said, previewing the meal on Monday afternoon. 'That's one great thing about all the premiers, they're all political different stripes, but we all just tell each other what's on our mind.'
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Carney is set to meet with the premiers officially at Deerhurst Resort around mid-morning on July 22.
During that meeting, he will brief the provincial leaders on how talks are going with the United States and the plan if Trump follows through with a promise to add 35 per cent tariffs on Aug. 1.
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After an approximately two-hour meeting, Carney will depart, and a premiers-only meeting will follow.
The country's first ministers will take part in a working lunch where they'll hear from former ambassadors and then launch into a full meeting of the Council of the Federation.
That is expected to be dominated by trade discussions and questions about the United States, although it may also include a wildfire update.
In the evening, Ford will host a reception for premiers and various stakeholders, where the lieutenant governor will also deliver remarks.
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CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Can Mark Carney move fast and not break things?
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The government's first major legislation — Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which allows for the expedited approval of large infrastructure projects — was tabled in the House of Commons just 19 days after the cabinet was sworn in. Twenty days after that the bill had passed both the House and Senate — a breathtakingly quick passage for legislation of such potential significance. A few days after that bill was tabled, Carney announced the federal government would significantly accelerate its plan to spend more on national defence. During the campaign, the Liberals promised to exceed the NATO target of two per cent of GDP "before" 2030. In June, Carney said the government would hit that mark in the current fiscal year. WATCH | What critics are saying about Carney's 'move fast' approach: Prime Minister Mark Carney's need for speed 16 days ago With the defence budget now slated to rapidly grow — and with Carney having promised to impose new discipline on overall federal spending — the prime minister has given ministers until the end of the summer to complete a federal program review aimed at finding billions of dollars in cuts or savings. Federal departments have also been given 60 days to identify federal regulations that can be eliminated. Meanwhile, Carney has appointed a new clerk of the Privy Council and seemingly given him a mandate to make government itself move faster. "Our internal processes have become quite complicated. 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WATCH | First Nations leaders meet with PM: Chiefs voice unhappiness with Carney's First Nations summit | Power & Politics 8 days ago The Power Panel discusses Prime Minister Mark Carney's summit on the new major projects law with First Nations leaders. Some chiefs are calling it a 'disaster.' "Focus, change, action" is apparently something of a mantra in Carney's office. Purportedly a demanding boss, Carney comes to the job having spent significant time working in both the private sector and in and around government (the latter of which may have left him with a view about how governments work and how they don't). But for the sake of both making the case for active government and rebutting the populist challenge, Liberals — and progressives in general — might also have a special interest in wanting to see government moving and acting as quickly and efficiently as possible. 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Policy analysts and public sector unions are already expressing concern about the potential consequences of the program review — and how quickly the government is moving to find cuts. However necessary it might be to increase spending on national defence or other areas, and whatever the public's general desire for greater fiscal discipline in Ottawa, the results of this spending review could expose some painful trade-offs — or at least compel Carney and his cabinet to defend some significant sacrifices. C-5 may have also shown that there are real risks governments run when they try to move fast — at least when the rights of Indigenous Peoples are involved. The sheer speed of the bill's passage seemed to feed suspicions. 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Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Updating the way governments work together
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Charest called it 'internal diplomacy to build alliances.' For other premiers, the imperative was 'strength in unity.' They would have a better shot at influencing the federal government if they stood and acted as one. Consensus was in, 'asterisks' denoting dissent were out. Unilateral federal cutbacks to health-care transfers and equalization payments by the Chrétien/Martin governments had angered all premiers. They pointed to a growing fiscal imbalance between Ottawa and among the provinces. NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS Prime Minister Mark Carney greets Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew as Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston looks on, during the first ministers meeting in Huntsville, Ont., on Tuesday. While CoF created a 'table of equals,' one government was primus intra pares, or first among equals — the federal government. 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We are already seeing the limits to two orders of government — Ottawa and the provinces and territories — wanting to advance on infrastructure projects faster and more purposefully than some Indigenous governments. Demanding a seat at the table will continue until there is one. Disruptive presences outside can often become ameliorating presences inside. Canada is setting itself an historic agenda for economic and political change in response to the American tariff and trade threats. For this to succeed, we need to update how we govern ourselves as one country. The CoF founding agreement calls itself an 'enduring and evolving institution.' No question it has endured as a regular forum to demand more money and powers from the federal government. The question now is whether it can evolve into a true Council of the Federation involving representatives of all orders of government: federal, provincial, territorial and, yes, Indigenous. For the first time, Canada can imagine so. 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Global News
9 hours ago
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U.S. Christian musician's West Kelowna tour date remains, amid backlash
He mixes faith with music and politics, but this American, Christian rocker's Canadian tour is striking the wrong chord for some. Sean Feucht, a MAGA-aligned missionary and musician, has been dropped by six venues across Canada amid growing concerns. 'We have had venues cancelled, we have been threatened,' Feucht said in a Twitter video. Despite this backlash, West Kelowna remains one of the few cities still hosting Feucht's tour, along with Abbotsford. The city is closely monitoring the situation ahead of his Aug. 23 performance at the Memorial Park Amphitheatre. 2:04 Venues pulling permits for controversial MAGA musician set to perform in Edmonton In a statement, West Kelowna officials said they are listening to public concerns and reviewing safety and security plans in collaboration with the RCMP. Story continues below advertisement Due to limited information provided by the event organizer and raised public worries, the city expressed increased concerns about public safety and emphasized the need for the organizer to meet all necessary security requirements. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The city also noted it is limited in its ability to restrict access to public spaces but is using this opportunity to review booking procedures and consider new policies for future rentals. They stressed that private events held in city facilities do not reflect West Kelowna's values, which are rooted in respect, kindness, and inclusivity. Advocacy Canada President Wilbur Turner described Feucht's presence as problematic. 'The city has certain values of inclusivity and being welcoming,' he said. Sean Feucht has made headlines for opposing abortion rights, COVID restrictions, and the LGBTQ2 community — positions critics say go against the spirit of the city. 'It's actually very harmful; it doesn't match with the values of most Canadians,' said Turner. 'The majority of Canadians don't have a problem with the queer community, and so this is just trying to drive a wedge into causing more division.' Feucht, however, defended his Let Us Worship tour on Twitter, saying, 'If I had shown up with purple hair and a dress claiming to be a woman, the government wouldn't have said a word.' Story continues below advertisement As venues continue to cancel, Feucht is fundraising to finish his tour, urging supporters to help him 'worship Jesus.' Locations, including Parks Canada in Nova Scotia and the National Capital Commission in Quebec, have withdrawn permitting for the event, citing safety concerns, risk of protest and support for the LGBTQ2 community.
