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CTV News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
CTV National News: Expanded G7 invitation list prompting criticisms
Watch PM Mark Carney's G7 invites to the leaders of Saudi Arabia and India is dividing members of the Liberal caucus. Judy Trinh on the the reasons for concern.
Globe and Mail
12-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Carney's G7 invitation list continues to expand, despite concerns about India's presence
Prime Minister Mark Carney continues to expand the invitation list for the coming Group of Seven summit, as he seeks to build new economic partnerships, though some of his caucus members are raising concerns about India's presence at the table. The Globe and Mail has learned that Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will not attend next week's G7 gathering in Kananaskis, Alta. – a development that may ease some of the tension inside Mr. Carney's Liberal caucus, as some MPs were also upset about Mr. bin Salman's invitation. The MPs say India and Saudi Arabia are in violation of Mr. Carney's own G7 priority of 'countering foreign interference and transnational crime,' and therefore should not have been invited. A list of attendants of the June 15-17 summit, issued Wednesday by the Prime Minister's Office, includes the leaders of Brazil, South Africa, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Mexico, Ukraine and Australia; the presidents of the European Commission and World Bank; and the NATO secretary-general. More leaders may still be confirmed. The members of the G7, an informal grouping of some of the world's most advanced economies, are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States. The country hosting each year's summit often invites non-member states to attend in recognition of other major economies and the need for global collaboration on major policy priorities. Mr. Carney announced Wednesday that, ahead of the summit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will come to Ottawa for bilateral talks. 'Prime Minister Starmer's visit will strengthen the long-standing economic and security partnership between the two nations – and deliver growth and prosperity for our peoples,' Mr. Carney's office said in a statement. The two men previously met in March, on Mr. Carney's first trip abroad as Prime Minister. Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal criticizes Modi's G7 invitation in meeting with Carney The G7 summit will mark U.S. President Donald Trump's first visit to Canada since his re-election and imposition of tariffs on this country. Ottawa and Washington continue to negotiate toward a new trade and security deal. Mr. Carney has said the priorities guiding the summit are 'anchored' in building stronger economies. He will be seeking co-ordinated action in three areas: 'protecting our communities and the world,' 'building energy security and accelerating digital transitions,' and securing economic partnerships. Under that first heading, he specifically described tackling foreign interference and transnational crime – a priority that Liberal MPs said Wednesday is out of step with inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. bin Salman. In 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh-Canadian advocate for the carving out of an independent state of Khalistan in India, was killed in B.C. Mr. Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, publicly accused India of orchestrating the slaying, though New Delhi has denied the allegation. Four Indian nationals have been charged in the case. The foreign-interference inquiry also cited instances of Indian-state meddling in Canadian democratic processes. Opinion: Carney should know it's way too soon to invite Modi to Canada In 2018, Ottawa imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for the slaying of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Turkey. U.S. media later reported that the CIA believes Mr. bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, ordered Mr. Khashoggi's killing – contradicting Riyadh's assertion that he was not involved. Gurbux Saini, a B.C. Liberal MP, said the G7 invitations of Mr. Modi and Mr. bin Salman undermine Canada's reputation. 'It is a damaging thing because we have been known in the world as caring and compassionate people who love human rights, and this is something the Prime Minister is aware of and it has been brought to his attention,' Mr. Saini said on his way into the party's weekly caucus meeting Wednesday. Mr. Carney did not answer questions from reporters Wednesday about the invite to Mr. bin Salman. But last week, Mr. Carney said it made sense for India to be at the table, as it is one of the largest economies in the world and central to global supply chains. He wouldn't comment on the allegations levelled by his predecessor against India, saying 'the rule of law is proceeding as it should,' and that he wasn't going to comment. But he said the invitation to Mr. Modi was extended in the context of continuing dialogue between law enforcement in both countries. Some MPs said Wednesday that, while they understand the imperative of engaging economically and diplomatically with India and Saudi Arabia, there has to be a wider discussion of the issues. 'These are important economic relationships to have,' said Karina Gould, who ran against Mr. Carney for Liberal leadership earlier this year. 'But that being said, as Canada, we also have certain values that are important to us, and when it comes to human rights, when it comes to standing up and protecting Canadian citizens on our soil, but also ensuring that freedom exists around the world, that that's a message that we should be passing along to both Prime Minister Modi as well as the Crown Prince.'
National Observer
27-05-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
Even after the Justin Trudeau fallout, Liberal MPs still reject Reform Act rules
Liberal MPs voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise, newly elected Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney confirmed on Sunday. A majority of the caucus voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out under the decade-old Reform Act. That law was originated by Conservative MP Michael Chong to embolden individual MPs to hold their party leaders to account by allowing them to force leadership reviews, among other things. But Maloney refused to say anything more about the vote or the secret deliberations, insisting that should all remain private. 'The Reform Act was voted down,' Maloney said after the Liberals met for their first caucus meeting since the April 28 election. 'What happens in caucus stays in caucus, and you're going to hear me say that today, and tomorrow and every day going forward.' The internal debate was prompted by Liberal MPs who were frustrated former leader Justin Trudeau was able to remain at the helm despite numerous calls from within caucus for him to step aside. Adopting the Reform Act rules would have given Liberal MPs a road map for such situations. That's how the Conservatives ousted Erin O'Toole from the leadership after the Conservatives lost the 2021 election. The rules let a fifth of the party's MPs move to trigger a leadership review. Then, a majority vote would be required to eject the leader. Liberal MPs refused to talk about the outcome following their meeting on Sunday, but a few chimed in beforehand to share how they personally felt. Whitby MP Ryan Turnbull said he had planned to support adopting the rules because it's "important to have caucus accountability in every party." But Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma MP Terry Sheehan said he doesn't see the need for the new rules, which his party has never adopted. "I've come in with a pre-set mind that I will not be supporting the Reform Act because we don't need to. Our caucus is strong," he said. "Behind those doors right there, that's our caucus and we can let our hair down any time and have frank and open discussions." Prime Minister Mark Carney rallied his Liberal caucus Sunday afternoon with a speech that laid out his governing agenda for the re-opening of Parliament. The Liberals briefly let the TV cameras and reporters into their first caucus meeting since winning the April 28 election to watch Carney address his new colleagues. Carney said his government's immediate focus will be on affordability measures, such as quickly passing the tax cut he promised during the campaign. From dealing with a chaotic White House to building up the economy, he set the stakes high for his new MPs. "Our government has been elected to do nothing less than define a new economic and security relationship with the United States," he said. "Canadians also want their life to become more affordable. They want their communities safer. We will deliver these mandates with urgency and determination. We are going to get going from minute one." Carney said his ministers will immediately introduce legislation to fast-track infrastructure projects deemed to be in the national interest and bring in a bill to eliminate all federal barriers to free trade in Canada. Parliament returns on Monday to elect a new Speaker for the House of Commons, followed by a throne speech on Tuesday to be delivered by King Charles III. Carney promised his government would move at a brisk pace with "one of the most busy returns to Parliament in Canadian history." Parliament, however, is only scheduled to sit for a month before a pre-scheduled summer break until September, and the new government has not made time to table its budget until fall. Still, Carney said his minority government team will be "very, very busy" in not just the coming weeks, but also over the next few years, and accomplish things "previously thought impossible at speeds not seen in generations." The previous minority Parliament found itself gridlocked for months last year amid procedural obstructions, and the Trudeau government had largely failed to pass legislation or advance much of its agenda in its waning days in office. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said he has spoken to the House leaders of all the opposition parties and is hoping for a reset in relations in the new Parliament. "We are a minority government, so that obviously means that we need to attract support from all sides of the House to get anything done," he said. "At the same time, we believe very, very clearly that Canadians have given us a mandate, and I think it will be incumbent on all parties to respond to that mandate."
National Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Michael Higgins: Liberal caucus submits to Carney as it did to Trudeau
Contrary to what many in the West believe, some countries dislike democracy, preferring the strongman, the firm ruler, the dictator. Article content Article content So it is with the Liberals who have shunned accountability and democracy in favour of the autocratic leader. Article content Considering the problems the Liberals had with the last guy, it must be the case that some turkeys really do vote for Christmas. Article content Article content On Sunday, a majority of the Liberal caucus voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out in the Reform Act, a decade old law to give MPs more power. Article content Article content One of the central planks of the Reform Act would give caucus members the right to trigger a review of the party leader. Article content The private bill sponsored by Conservative Michael Chong passed its third reading in the House in 2014 with an impressive 260 votes for with only 17 against. Article content At the time, Chong said, 'I don't expect that all the rules will be adopted all at once, but in the long run, party caucuses will democratize themselves and empower themselves.' Article content After each federal election, parties vote on whether to adopt Reform Act rules or not. Article content The Liberals, despite overwhelmingly voting in favour of the act, have always chosen not to adopt it. Article content But the failure not to vote for it this time is baffling. Article content Former Liberal leader Justin Trudeau refused to relinquish power and attempts to get him to go bordered on the farcical. Article content During a caucus meeting last October, a letter from MPs was read to Trudeau urging him to step aside. The letter was signed by two dozen Liberal MPs, but such is the fear ingrained in MPs that the letter presented to Trudeau at the caucus meeting did not contain any names. Article content Article content Trudeau responded defiantly within 24 hours saying that he would be leading the Liberals into the next election. Article content Article content Many Liberal MPs critical of Trudeau preferred to remain anonymous with New Brunswick MP Wayne Long being one of the few who was open and vocal. Article content The calls within the party for Trudeau to go kept getting louder and yet the prime minister held on to power tenaciously, gripping it with his fingernails as events tried to prise him from it. By December, a majority of his caucus was demanding he resign; then Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland quit cabinet and with a twist of the knife accused Trudeau of 'political gimmicks,' and perhaps most damning was the lack of public support, the approval rating for Trudeau was at an all-time low and support for the Liberals stood at a mere 16 per cent. Article content In the face of all this, Trudeau went skiing and it wasn't until January that he bowed to the inevitable.
Toronto Star
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Even after the Justin Trudeau experience, Liberal MPs still reject Reform Act rules
OTTAWA - Liberal MPs voted against adopting a formal process to eject their leader should the need arise, newly elected Liberal Caucus Chair James Maloney confirmed on Sunday. A majority of the caucus voted down a motion to adopt the rules set out under the decade-old Reform Act.
