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These are the 30 most read items on National Newswatch, from the last seven days.

Top 10 most influential Liberals in Carney’s government

Top 10 most influential Liberals in Carney’s government

Gerald Butts and David Lametti hold no official roles in the Liberal government, but Prime Minister Mark Carney informally seeks their advice on key political matters, say Liberal sources. The federal Liberals owe their surprising comeback to Mark Carney who officially entered in the political arena just five months ago. A former central banker who led both the Bank of...

‘We’re hurt, too’: U.S. envoy counters Canadians’ outrage over annexation threats

‘We’re hurt, too’: U.S. envoy counters Canadians’ outrage over annexation threats

U.S. envoy Pete Hoekstra says he is 'not very sympathetic' to the pain Canadians feel over Trump's annexation threats as he looks to the future.United States President Donald Trump’s top diplomat in Ottawa says the hurt over the state of the bilateral relationship isn’t just being felt by Canadians. “We’re hurt, too,” Ambassador Pete Hoekstra told The Hill Times during...

Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia elected Speaker of the House of Commons

Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia elected Speaker of the House of Commons

Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia, who represents the Montreal-area riding of Lac–Saint–Louis, has been elected Speaker of the House of Commons. Monday marks the return to the House for newly elected and returning MPs, after a five-month hiatus to choose a new Liberal leader and hold a general election. According to House of Commons procedure, electing a Speaker of the House...

Carney will not take up Trudeau's question period tradition

Carney will not take up Trudeau's question period tradition

Prime Minister Mark Carney will take part in his first question period on Wednesday -- but will not carry on a tradition started by his predecessor. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau made it his practice to answer all questions in the House of Commons on Wednesdays, a gesture meant to improve accountability within the chamber.

Liberal government appoints 12 ministerial chiefs of staff

Liberal government appoints 12 ministerial chiefs of staff

The Liberal government has appointed 12 chiefs of staff to some of the most influential federal ministers. A list of appointments was sent in an internal e-mail to Liberal staff and obtained by The Globe and Mail. More appointments are expected next week. As the top aide to a minister, chiefs of staff have significant influence over the minister, their...

Conservatives had a ‘leader problem,’ not a ‘strategy problem’: Liberal campaign director

Conservatives had a ‘leader problem,’ not a ‘strategy problem’: Liberal campaign director

The Liberal national campaign director is commending the Conservatives for employing what he characterizes as the right strategy during last month’s election. “I think that their strategy is right to concentrate on change, cost of living,” Andrew Bevan said in an interview on CTV Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Wednesday. “I don’t think they had a strategy problem. “I...



Carney met with former prime minister Harper on day of throne speech: sources

Carney met with former prime minister Harper on day of throne speech: sources

PM served as Bank of Canada governor when Harper was in power. During a visit to Ottawa to watch the King deliver the speech from the throne, former prime minister Stephen Harper met privately with Prime Minister Mark Carney, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on the meeting, with spokesperson Audrey...

Ottawa tabling bill to skirt impact assessment law for 'national interest' projects

Ottawa tabling bill to skirt impact assessment law for 'national interest' projects

The federal government is developing a "national interest" bill to fast-track nation-building projects with a streamlined regulatory approval process as a substitute for reviews under the Impact Assessment Act. A briefing document obtained by The Canadian Press indicates the legislation would lay out the criteria to decide if a project is in the national interest. Once that's decided, a single...

Justin Trudeau’s Adidas sneakers draw bemused reactions during royal visit at Canadian parliament

Justin Trudeau’s Adidas sneakers draw bemused reactions during royal visit at Canadian parliament

Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised eyebrows on Tuesday with his choice of footwear for the opening of Canadian parliament. King Charles was in attendance at the Ottawa Senate Building to give a speech viewed widely as a show of support in the face of annexation threats by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Inside the NDP's last-ditch efforts to save Jagmeet Singh and his riding

Inside the NDP's last-ditch efforts to save Jagmeet Singh and his riding

Sources say party was focused on saving leader's seat at the expense of other incumbents. In the dying days of the federal election campaign, senior New Democrats made a desperate, last-ditch attempt to save Jagmeet Singh's Burnaby, B.C., seat. Some say it was unwinnable. At least 20 staff from the party's Ottawa headquarters packed the leader's campaign plane just days...

Cabinet ministers watch their words as pressure builds on defence file

Cabinet ministers watch their words as pressure builds on defence file

National defence is becoming an increasingly thorny topic for Prime Minister Mark Carney's government as Canada comes under heavy pressure from its allies to do more and spend more. But with just weeks to go until NATO member nations assemble in the Netherlands for a summit that could put Ottawa in the hot seat on defence spending, several of his...

NDP will not be granted official party status: government House leader

NDP will not be granted official party status: government House leader

Government House leader Steven MacKinnon says the NDP will not be granted official party status because the law says a party needs at least 12 seats to be recognized. The NDP was reduced to just seven seats in last month's election. Interim NDP Leader Don Davies has told The Canadian Press he spoke with the Prime Minister's Office about obtaining...

Brookfield firms seek help from Carney days after he takes office

Brookfield firms seek help from Carney days after he takes office

Calgary-based firm, controlled by Brookfield, wants Carney to consider it in investment decisions. Just two days after the Liberals won the federal election, executives from companies linked to the new prime minister’s former employer, Brookfield Asset Management, began asking for his help. On April 30, two oil and gas companies owned by Brookfield joined 36 others in signing an open...

Carney government tables $486 billion spending plan with few details

Carney government tables $486 billion spending plan with few details

The Carney government presented Parliament Tuesday with a plan to spend about the same amount of money in the fiscal year ahead as the Trudeau government did in its final year — about $486 billion, a plan that left the Conservatives unimpressed.

Carney says Canada is looking to join major European military buildup by July 1

Carney says Canada is looking to join major European military buildup by July 1

'By Canada Day we'd like to see something concrete there,' PM tells Power & Politics. Prime Minister Mark Carney signalled he hopes Canada will be able to sign on to a major European defence rearmament plan by July 1, a step toward reducing the country's dependency on the United States for weapons and munitions. He made the remarks on CBC's...

If Mark Carney has had a less than impressive start, this is the reason why

If Mark Carney has had a less than impressive start, this is the reason why

Delivering his maiden speech in the House of Commons on Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney wisely tacked towards humility. “I have much to learn from the members of this great House. I will make mistakes,” he said. “I have no doubt that you will call them out, and for good reason.” Carney acknowledged that our parliamentary system may seem arcane...

Mark Carney's daughter could be among international students caught in Harvard-Trump fight

Mark Carney's daughter could be among international students caught in Harvard-Trump fight

Another high-profile student who may be impacted is Princess Elisabeth, heir to the Belgian throne. Here's what you need to know

Toronto band Martha and the Muffins at odds with Conservatives over song use

Toronto band Martha and the Muffins at odds with Conservatives over song use

Toronto new-wave band Martha and the Muffins is trying a relatively novel legal strategy to prevent Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre from using its song Echo Beach at rallies in his upcoming by-election campaign. After learning that he and at least one other Conservative candidate used the Juno Award-winning 1980 song at rallies during the spring election cycle, the band’s...



Bono says ‘the whole world is in awe’ of Canada, takes shots at Pierre Poilievre and Donald Trump - thanked Canadians for “not electing a populist”

Bono says ‘the whole world is in awe’ of Canada, takes shots at Pierre Poilievre and Donald Trump - thanked Canadians for “not electing a populist”

U2 frontman Bono had some kind words to say about Canada during a TV appearance on Global News on Monday. “I was always a fan of your mosaic, your culture, your ... kind of reason, and never more so than now,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer said on “The Morning Show.”

British ministers urge Carney not to drag Charles into Trump wars on Canada visit

British ministers urge Carney not to drag Charles into Trump wars on Canada visit

Although he will be on the ground for less than 24 hours, when the King lands in Ottawa on Monday for his 20th visit to Canada — though his first as monarch — he will be acutely aware of the highly delicate diplomatic situation. One Commonwealth source familiar with discussions between London and Ottawa over the visit said: “British ministers...

King Charles and Queen Camilla touch down in Canada for two-day visit amid U.S. tensions

King Charles and Queen Camilla touch down in Canada for two-day visit amid U.S. tensions

Canada's monarch will read speech from the throne in visit crafted to affirm Canada's sovereignty. King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Ottawa Monday for a two-day visit designed to show U.S. President Donald Trump that Canada is not a prospective American territory but a distinct constitutional monarchy with its own identity, culture and history. The King's visit, which is...

King's invite to Canada sends a message to Trump - and the world

King's invite to Canada sends a message to Trump - and the world

A decade ago, a portrait of the British monarch caused a row in Canadian politics. Now, the King is being invited to deliver the Speech from the Throne. What's changed? In 2011, shortly after forming a majority Conservative government, Prime Minister Stephen Harper caused a national uproar when he sought to emphasise Canada's ties to the British monarchy. In one...

King Charles’ throne speech delivery was lauded as inspired. But Carney still has to deal with this one issue the speech didn’t address

King Charles’ throne speech delivery was lauded as inspired. But Carney still has to deal with this one issue the speech didn’t address

Some people have declared the decision to have King Charles III read the Speech from the Throne is an inspired, attention-grabbing gesture that will signal to a recalcitrant White House a powerful example of Canada’s distinctiveness and sovereignty. Another interpretation is that it is a meaningless symbol sent to an indifferent public, that runs counter and is tone deaf to...

Alberta's Smith calls three byelections where NDP leader, separatist leader to run

Alberta's Smith calls three byelections where NDP leader, separatist leader to run

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has called three byelections to take place on June 23. The three vacant ridings are Edmonton-Strathcona, Edmonton-Ellerslie and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi is to run in Edmonton-Strathcona, which became vacant when former premier Rachel Notley resigned her seat late last year.

Carney tells MPs to brace for 'very, very busy' few weeks as Parliament reopens

Carney tells MPs to brace for 'very, very busy' few weeks as Parliament reopens

Prime Minister Mark Carney told his caucus to brace for a "very, very" busy few weeks and months as Parliament reopens, promising to implement his vision for the country with "urgency and determination." In an address to caucus — which media cameras were invited in to shoot — Carney teased that his Liberal minority government will introduce several pieces of...

King says 'strong and free' Canada is a force for good in historic throne speech

King says 'strong and free' Canada is a force for good in historic throne speech

Charles says he's heartened to see revival of 'national pride, unity and hope' in Canada. King Charles delivered a historic speech from the throne Tuesday and he used that platform to praise Canada as a force for good that will remain "strong and free" as its relationships with longtime partners are "changing." Charles, who delivered the speech seated next to...

Pierre Poilievre’s campaign was faltering — but Mark Carney’s was vulnerable too. The inside story of how the Conservatives and Liberals both fumbled the 2025 federal election

Pierre Poilievre’s campaign was faltering — but Mark Carney’s was vulnerable too. The inside story of how the Conservatives and Liberals both fumbled the 2025 federal election

In a three-part series, based on interviews with 106 political insiders, candidates and staff members, the Star’s Althia Raj explores how mistakes and missed opportunities saw a near-certain victory slip from the Conservatives’ grasp, while the Liberals experienced a political rebirth that stalled just three seats shy of a majority government.

King Charles, Queen Camilla delight Ottawa crowds with 'momentous' royal visit

King Charles, Queen Camilla delight Ottawa crowds with 'momentous' royal visit

Thousands of royal watchers gathered on a sunny Monday afternoon in Ottawa to give King Charles and Queen Camilla a taste of Canadian hospitality during their short but highly symbolic trip. The King landed a day before he is set to deliver the speech from the throne to open Parliament -- a rare event that comes as Canada copes with...

Canada faces 'massive challenge' as NATO eyes new 5% spending target: expert

Canada faces 'massive challenge' as NATO eyes new 5% spending target: expert

When representatives of NATO nations meet in The Hague late next month, they're expected to dramatically hike the alliance's defence spending target for members -- the one Canada is failing to hit already. At the last NATO summit in Washington last year, allies lined up to call out Canada for failing to meet the alliance defence spending target of two...

Even after the Justin Trudeau experience, Liberal MPs still reject Reform Act rules

Even after the Justin Trudeau experience, 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...