Throne Speech and Spending

The Speech from the Throne opens every new session of Parliament. The Speech is a statement of the government’s general intentions during the coming months.

On May 27, 2025, His Majesty King Charles III attended the State Opening of Canada’s Parliament and delivered the ‘Speech from the Throne’ to formally open the first session of the 45th Parliament.

The King said… Honourable Senators, Members of the House of Commons. It is with a sense of deep pride and pleasure that my wife and I join you here today, as we witness Canadians coming together in a renewed sense of national pride, unity, and hope.

I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people. This land acknowledgement is a recognition of shared history as a nation. While continuing to deepen my own understanding, it is my great hope that in each of your communities, and collectively as a country, a path is found toward truth and reconciliation, in both word and deed.

This is my 20th visit to Canada, spread over the course of more than half a century, and my first as Sovereign. As I have said before, “Every time I come to Canada… a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream – and from there straight to my heart.” I have always had the greatest admiration for Canada’s unique identity, which is recognized across the world for bravery and sacrifice in defence of national values, and for the diversity and kindness of Canadians.

To the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples – you have welcomed my family and myself to your traditional lands with great warmth and hospitality, for which I am humbly grateful.

This year, we mark the 80th anniversary of V-E Day and V-J Day. On Juno Beach, at Dieppe, on the Somme, at Beaumont-Hamel, at Ypres, and on Vimy Ridge… At those places, and many others, forever etched into our memories, Canadians fought and died alongside our closest allies.

Today, I see representatives from every part of Canada – from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to Victoria, British Columbia, and Arviat, Nunavut. I see the guardians of the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Canadian Charter and, as King, I thank you for your service to your fellow Canadians, across the length and breadth of this vast and great nation.

You speak for your communities, representing an incredible richness of cultures, languages, and perspectives. We owe it to this generation, and those who succeed us, to think and act for the greater good of all. While the world faces unprecedented challenges, generating uncertainties across the continents with regards to peace and stability, economics, and climate change, your communities have the skills and determination to bring a wealth of solutions.

By fostering collaboration and engaging in respectful, constructive debates, you will ensure this Government is capable of bold and fair action to support Canadians.

It has been nearly 70 years since the Sovereign first opened Parliament. In the time since, Canada has dramatically changed: repatriating its Constitution, achieving full independence, and witnessing immense growth. Canada has embraced its British, French, and Indigenous roots, and become a bold, ambitious, innovative country that is bilingual, truly multicultural, and committed to reconciliation.

The Crown has for so long been a symbol of unity for Canada. It also represents stability and continuity from the past to the present. As it should, it stands proudly as a symbol of Canada today, in all her richness and dynamism.

When my dear late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, opened a new Canadian Parliament in 1957, the Second World War remained a fresh, painful memory. The Cold War was intensifying. Freedom and democracy were under threat. Canada was emerging as a growing economic power and a force for peace in the world. In the decades since, history has been punctuated by epoch-making events: the Vietnam War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the start of the War on Terror. Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect.

The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing. Canada’s relationships with partners are also changing.

We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War. Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes.

Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them. Fundamental change is always unsettling. Yet this moment is also an incredible opportunity. An opportunity for renewal. An opportunity to think big and to act bigger. An opportunity for Canada to embark on the largest transformation of its economy since the Second World War. A confident Canada, which has welcomed new Canadians, including from some of the most tragic global conflict zones, can seize this opportunity by recognising that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away. And that by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians.  

The Prime Minister and the President of the United States, for example, have begun defining a new economic and security relationship between Canada and the U.S., rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests, to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.

In parallel, the Government is working to strengthen its relationships with reliable trading partners and allies around the world, recognizing that Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects.

Canada is ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its values, that believe in international co-operation and the free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas. In this new, fast-evolving world, Canada is ready to lead. This will be demonstrated in June, when Canada convenes the G7 Summit.

The Government is guided by its conviction that the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone. Many Canadians are struggling to get ahead. The Government is responding, reducing middle-class taxes and saving two-income families up to $840 a year. It will cut the GST on homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers, delivering savings of up to $50,000. And it will lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.

The Government will protect the programs that are already saving families thousands of dollars every year. These include child care and pharmacare. In addition to these, the Government has recently expanded the Canadian Dental Care Plan to cover about eight million Canadians, saving the average person more than $800 per year.

The Government’s overarching goal – its core mission – is to build the strongest economy in the G7. That starts with creating one Canadian economy out of thirteen. Internal barriers to trade and labour mobility cost Canada as much as $200 billion each year. The Government will introduce legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility by Canada Day.

Numerous premiers have already taken vital steps to break down provincial and territorial barriers to trade. Together, we will build on that progress to deliver free trade across the nation by Canada Day. This is critical to unlocking Canada’s full economic potential, but it’s not enough.

To build Canada strong, the Government is working closely with provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples to identify and catalyse projects of national significance. Projects that will connect Canada, that will deepen Canada’s ties with the world, and that will create high-paying jobs for generations.

Given the pace of change and the scale of opportunities, speed is of the essence. Through the creation of a new Major Federal Project Office, the time needed to approve a project will be reduced from five years to two; all while upholding Canada’s world-leading environmental standards and its constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples.

The Government will also strike co-operation agreements with every interested province and territory within six months to realize its goal of “one project, one review.” When Canadians come together, Canada builds things that last.

By removing these barriers that have held back our economy, we will unleash a new era of growth that will ensure we don’t just survive ongoing trade wars, but emerge from them stronger than ever. It will enable Canada to become the world’s leading energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy. To build an industrial strategy that will make Canada more globally competitive, while fighting climate change. To build hundreds of thousands of good careers in the skilled trades. And to build Canada into the world’s leading hub for science and innovation.

Critically, the Government will undertake a series of measures to help double the rate of home building while creating an entirely new housing industry – using Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers, and Canadian lumber. The Government will introduce measures to deliver affordable homes by creating Build Canada Homes. This mission-driven organization will act to accelerate the development of new affordable housing. It will invest in the growth of the prefabricated and modular housing industry. And it will provide significant financing to affordable home builders. The Government will make the housing market work better, including by cutting municipal development charges in half for all multi-unit housing. The Government will drive supply up to bring housing costs down.

To be truly strong, Canada must be secure. To that end, the Government will introduce legislation to enhance security at Canada’s borders. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies will have new tools to stop the flow of fentanyl and its precursors. The Canada Border Services Agency will be given new powers to examine goods destined for export, to prevent the transport of illegal and stolen products, including cars.

The Government will protect Canada’s sovereignty by rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. It will boost Canada’s defence industry by joining ReArm Europe, to invest in transatlantic security with Canada’s European partners. And it will invest to strengthen its presence in the North, which is an integral part of Canada, as this region faces new threats.

The Government will discharge its duty to protect Canadians and their sovereign rights, from wherever challenges may come at home or abroad. To keep communities safe, the Government will hire 1,000 more RCMP personnel. It will change firearms licensing and strengthen enforcement of yellow and red flag laws. Weapons licences for those convicted of intimate partner violence and those subject to protection orders will be revoked. Through the deployment of scanners, drones and helicopters, additional personnel, and K-9 teams, the Government will stem the tide of illegal guns and drugs across the border.

It will take these steps while protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners and Indigenous Peoples’ longstanding hunting traditions.

The Government will bring a renewed focus on car theft and home invasions by toughening the Criminal Code to make bail harder to get for repeat offenders charged with committing these crimes, along with human trafficking and drug smuggling.

During this time of great change, Canadians are uniting behind what makes Canada unique. The French language and the Quebec culture are at the heart of the Canadian identity. They define the country that Canadians and I love so much. Canada is a country that respects and celebrates its official languages and Indigenous languages. The Government is determined to protect the institutions that bring these cultures and this identity to the world, like CBC/Radio-Canada. It will protect the people who give us access to fresh, healthy, and quality food: agricultural producers. And it will protect supply management.

Nature is core to Canada’s identity. In 2022, Canada convened COP15 in Montréal, which concluded with 196 countries striking a historic agreement to protect 30 percent of their lands and 30 percent of waters by 2030. To this end, the Government will protect more of Canada’s nature than ever before through the creation of new national parks, national urban parks, marine protected areas, and other conservation initiatives.

The Government will always protect the rights and freedoms that the Charter guarantees for every Canadian. The Government will be a reliable partner to Indigenous Peoples, upholding its fundamental commitment to advancing reconciliation. Central to this commitment is the creation of long-term wealth and prosperity with Indigenous Peoples. For that reason, the Government will double the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion – enabling more Indigenous communities to become owners of major projects. As Canada moves forward with nation-building projects, the Government will always be firmly guided by the principle of free, prior, and informed consent.

Canada’s immigration system has long been a source of pride for Canadians and of dynamism for the economy. The Government is dedicated to rebuilding the trust of Canadians in immigration by restoring balance to the system.

The Government will cap the total number of temporary foreign workers and international students to less than five percent of Canada’s population by 2027. By doing this, the Government will attract the best talent in the world to build our economy, while sending a clear message to Canadians working abroad that there is no better time to come home.

In all of its actions, the Government will be guided by a new fiscal discipline: spend less so Canadians can invest more. Day-to-day government spending – the government’s operating budget – has been growing by nine percent every year. The Government will introduce measures to bring it below two percent.

Transfers to provinces, territories, or individuals will be maintained. The Government will balance its operating budget over the next three years by cutting waste, capping the public service, ending duplication, and deploying technology to improve public sector productivity.

In parallel, the Government will take a series of measures to catalyse new investment to create better jobs and higher incomes for Canadians. The scale of the Government’s initiative will match the challenges of our times and the ambitions of Canadians.

Honourable Senators, Members of the House of Commons, when my dear late mother addressed your predecessors seven decades ago, she said that in that age, and against the backdrop of international affairs, no nation could live unto itself. It is a source of great pride that, in the following decades, Canada has continued to set an example to the world in her conduct and values, as a force for good.

I wish to express to you and to the people of Canada my heartfelt gratitude, and that of my wife, for the warmth of the welcome which we have received. As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free!

Members of the House of Commons, you will be asked to appropriate the funds to carry out the services and expenditures authorized by Parliament. May you honour the profound trust bestowed upon you by Canadians, and may God bless and guide you in all your duties.

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With the Throne Speech delivered and the Main Estimates numbers now on the table, the situation is dire. The proposed $486.9 billion spending for the 2025-26 financial year, to be voted on by Parliament, raises immediate concerns.

The total ask, a staggering 8.4 percent increase over last year, includes $73.4 billion in warrants issued during the prorogation of Parliament. This is a significant escalation that should raise alarm bells.

The 2025–26 Main Estimates present planned budgetary spending for 130 organizations. This includes transfer payments to other levels of government, as well as to different organizations and individuals. The likelihood of ever getting to a balanced budget in the foreseeable future is a myth.

The Carney government is legislating a $5 billion middle-class tax cut while planning to increase spending on the military and housing, and at the same time, promising to balance the operating budget within three years. It won't happen.

The Main Estimates, the first statement since the election, show no signs of the necessary restraint. This lack of fiscal responsibility is disappointing and does not bode well for the future.

The Prime Minister, for political posturing, criticized Trudeau as a spendthrift, saying that the government had spent too much and invested too little. Carney claimed his government would limit operating expense increases to two percent a year, down from nine percent a year, while preserving transfers to provinces and individuals.

Nevertheless, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's 2025–26 budget will be supported by an astounding $1,425,237,411 federal subsidy. CBC is watched by only 3% of Canadians, yet it is funded by 100% of the population.

Egregious spending continues on consultants. It was a debated sore point in the election. Regardless of the public criticism, professional and special services will hit $26 billion.

The character of the Liberal government is revealed in the Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), which is the dedicated federal economic development agency for British Columbians.

It allocates money to entrepreneurial activities in BC, but it costs 21.86% of its budget just to give away its annual allotment. It cost taxpayers 140,291,293, of which 30,674,070 was used to administer the giveaways. Yet, unlike a registered charity, it has no cost to fundraise.

However, the Main Estimates are not the whole picture. There will be 'supplementary estimates' during the year that will increase spending further. These additional estimates, which are used to cover unforeseen expenses or new initiatives, could significantly inflate the total budget.

Approximately 60 departments will experience budget increases exceeding the inflation rate. Only about a dozen have a budget reduction. Carney has stated that he will implement a system of budgets that separates investments in capital projects from operational expenditures. However, the books have always made those distinctions if one did an inspection.

Moreover, what is relentless is the interest cost from past and present borrowing. The government does not generate nearly enough revenue to cover its spending, so it must borrow more each year. Rising interest payments are scheduled to hit almost $50 billion, more than the $35.6 billion for national defense. Interest payments become a significant pre-spent cost that crowds out other priorities.

The only way to implement tax cuts that stimulate growth, support new spending plans, and soon balance the budget, is by making austere cuts everywhere else.

The Carney plan is Liberal largesse, steady as she goes, with lots of smiles and false promises, as always, from another disingenuous Liberal who promised a different approach. Since there has been no change in attitude from the previous administration, Canadians cannot have hope that the fortunes of our nation will improve.

 

Throne Speech

 On May 27, King Charles will fulfill his royal duties in opening Parliament by reading “The Speech from the Throne” in the Canadian Senate chamber.

Canada's history is deeply intertwined with the reigns of an uninterrupted succession of French and British monarchs since 1534, when the King of France claimed possession of what is now Canada. Their influence has significantly shaped our country's democratic development, marking a rich and profound historical significance of the monarchy in Canada.

Queen Elizabeth II was the first of Canada's sovereigns to be proclaimed separately as Queen of Canada in 1953, when a Canadian law, the Royal Style and Titles Act, formally conferred the title of "Queen of Canada". The proclamation reaffirmed the monarch's existing role in Canada as independent of the monarch’s role in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. Consequently, King Charles is the distinct King of Canada.

As a constitutional monarch for Canada, His Majesty King Charles III doesn't “rule” the country in a political operational sense. However, as Canada's Head of State, he “reigns” and is fundamental to Canada's system of government and our sense of identity. The Crown has prerogative powers in reserve, both written and unwritten, to protect the realm.

As the personal embodiment of the Crown, His Majesty's role is not just ceremonial. His role is to unite Canadians, regardless of their political affiliations, and give a collective sense of belonging to our country. The King's picture is displayed in courtrooms, city council chambers, and legislatures, symbolizing a unity that transcends political divisions.

The Americans had a revolution to gain independence from Britain. The Canada's remained separate colonies until 1867, and continued and evolved as a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system.

In his declaration to the Accession Council on September 10, 2022, His Majesty King Charles III stated:

I am deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty which have now passed to me. In taking up these responsibilities, I shall strive to follow the inspiring example I have been set in upholding constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of the Commonwealth Realms and Territories throughout the world.

At the Coronation, King Charles prayed:

God of compassion and mercy whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth. Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and conviction, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

New Canadians swear allegiance to The King, as well as Members of Parliament and the Legislatures, military, and police officers.

We do not swear allegiance to a document (a constitution), political entity, or flag. Instead, we swear allegiance to a person who embodies all these as well as our collective values.

The Speech from the Throne opens every new session of Parliament. The Speech introduces the government’s general administrative direction and policy goals. The Senate and the House of Commons cannot conduct public business until Canada’s Head of State or their representative reads the Speech.

Traditionally, the Governor General reads the Speech as The Crown’s representative in Canada. In 1957 and 1977, The Queen was in Canada and was invited to read the Speech herself. It is called the Speech from the Throne because usually, the Governor-General reads the Speech from the seat—or the Throne—in the Senate Chamber reserved for The Sovereign or their representative in Canada. It is the general policy declaration to be administered in the King’s name by the King’s government.

Members of the House of Commons, senators, Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, and other guests attend the reading of the Speech in the Senate chamber, which will be televised.

On the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor General issues a proclamation to summon Parliament. This proclamation formally announces that Parliament is to convene for a new session. The Senate and the House of Commons do not have the authority to open a session of Parliament until the Governor General issues this proclamation.

The government writes the Throne Speech. The reader can add an introduction to the Speech that briefly outlines their own recognitions and encouragements.

After the Throne Speech, the new Parliament session is officially open. Public business in both the Senate and the House of Commons can begin.

After the Throne Speech, the first order of business is for the Prime Minister to introduce Bill C-1 in the House of Commons. A senator also introduces a similar bill, Bill S-1, in the Senate. These bills claim the House of Commons' and Senate's independence from the Crown and their right to meet and debate. This process marks the beginning of the legislative session and sets the tone for the parliamentary debates and discussions that will follow.

These bills are given first reading, but not second reading. After the first reading, the House of Commons and the Senate debate the Speech from the Throne. After two days of proceedings and debate, a vote is called about “confidence” in the Throne Speech. The government must win the vote to stay in power. If the government loses the vote on the Throne Speech, the Prime Minister must ask the Governor General for dissolution of Parliament, which causes an election. 

Canada was formerly several dependent Crown colonies of the United Kingdom. There was a long path from Colony to responsible government and full independence. In 1867, Canada wrote its Constitution entitled the British North America Act and had it passed by the Westminster Parliament in London to become the first independent country to become a member of an emerging British Commonwealth of Nations.

Subsequent statutes were passed to enhance full independence. In 1982, the Canadian Constitution was patriated and made wholly Canadian by adopting a Canadian amending formula while attaching a new Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which applies to all Canadians.

First Nations peoples have some parallel independent historical relations with the British Crown from King George III's Royal Proclamation of 1763. The Royal Proclamation set the constitutional structure for negotiating treaties with the Indigenous inhabitants. It is referenced in section 25 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Starting with the 1763 Treaty of Paris, New France, of which the colony of Canada was a part, formally became a part of the British Empire. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 enlarged the colony of Canada under the Province of Quebec, and with the Constitutional Act of 1791, became known as the Canadas.

The Monarchs of Canada are recognized as:

George III   George William Frederick 1760 – 1820 

George IV   George Augustus Frederick 1820 — 1830

William IV   William Henry 1830 — 1837

Victoria   Alexandrina Victoria  1837 — 1901

Edward VII  Albert Edward  1901— 1910

George V  George Frederick Ernest Albert 1910 — 1936

Edward VIII Edward Albert Christian George 1936 — 1936 (abdicated)

George VI  Albert Frederick Arthur George 1936 — 1952

Elizabeth II  Elizabeth Alexandra Mary 1952 — 2022

Charles III  Charles Philip Arthur George  2022 — present 

No Budget ?

The Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney will not table a federal budget this year, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said. He made significant justifications including the excuse to include a fall economic statement instead. This choice undermined Ottawa's fiscal credibility amid mounting international economic uncertainty.

However, the situation appeared even more dire. The foundation of our Parliamentary democracy and our Westminster model is “the power of the purse”. The primary role of Parliament is to scrutinize and approve government spending. Parliament is not the government, but an independent institution of the people, where the government (the Executive) must seek permission to tax and spend the people’s money, and to get legislation approved.

Parliament developed and evolved through the centuries before the invention of political parties and the position of a Prime Minister. Parliament is foundational to the governance of the nation.

Such a prolonged absence of a properly presented budget would strike at the very core of our democracy. It is not a matter to be taken lightly. A federal budget is the most crucial legislative matter a government can present. It serves as a vital update on the nation's financial health and outlines the spending priorities for which it must be held accountable.

The unusual decision marked the first time since 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, that Canada had gone without an annual budget. Minister Champagne defended the choice with details, falsely claiming the need to prioritize a promised tax cut and a throne speech before Parliament adjourns in June. He rationalized by saying, “Canadians have seen the priorities we outlined during the campaign. We’re taking a step-by-step approach.”

The policy choice was a massive crack in Carney's credibility as a financial manager. With a huge finance department at his disposal, the Prime Minister was not credible if he could not present a budget. It was a ridiculous policy. It appeared to be the same behaviour that plagued the Liberals for the last decade, disregarding the basics of Parliament. Carney was a banker; what banker could not get a budget together to fulfil his constitutional duty to Canadians?

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre observed that Carney, a former Bank of England governor and hailed by Liberal supporters as an economic heavyweight, was abandoning his responsibility and accountability. “After months of promising ‘serious leadership’, Carney delivers delays and dysfunction,” Poilievre wrote on social media. “You don’t need a PhD in economics to know that hiding from a budget isn't governance." This criticism from the opposition is a crucial part of our democratic system, ensuring that the government is held accountable for its decisions.

The absence of a budget was a political signal that something was seriously wrong. While governments occasionally adjust fiscal timelines after elections, there was no practical reason for a “no-budget process”. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservatives tabled a budget in June 2011, just weeks after a May election. By contrast, the Liberals argued that more time was needed to factor uncertainty, pointing to volatile trade tensions with the US and sluggish global growth.

The avoidance struck at the heart of Carney’s political credentials. Carney campaigned on a pledge to restore rigor to federal finances. Instead, they appeared to be running away from their duty.

The nation is in dire need of a fiscal plan to navigate the uncertainty. The Liberal election platform was built on assumptions that may no longer hold. The economy is now weaker, and the deficit is likely higher. The absence of a budget was not just a procedural issue; it has significant implications for our financial future, and Canadians need to be aware. They are the legal plans for the government to signal to Canadians and the world where the economy is headed.

In front of cameras, Carney signed a meaningless document to symbolize the small change in income tax rates for the bottom tier. The actual change requires legislation, so we again have a Liberal image over substance.

Nevertheless, a full budget is not just a document for the financial community, as it is the core document for action for how a government will lead and implement its agenda. It is the roadmap for the government's actions. However, Finance Minister Champagne said they had several priorities to tackle before the House of Commons is scheduled to rise in June, but tabling a budget was not one of them.

It is unacceptable that the government would not put forward a full budget when it could. After months of building expectations and promising serious leadership, Carney announced that he would deliver nothing. Canadians were told that Mark Carney, the supposed serious economist, would bring competence. Instead, Canada observed dysfunction.

The budget is supposed to be tabled in April. However, due to the federal election and the fact that Parliament was prorogued before the election, no budget has been tabled this year.

However, the election timing does not prevent the government from tabling a budget. Parliament must still pass the primary and supplementary estimates, which are the legislative core needed for the government to function.

Governments must table main estimates once a year and supplementary estimates three times throughout the year. The main estimates need to be passed every year. The next deadline for the supplementary estimates to pass is June.

The House will return on Monday, May 26, and the ‘throne speech’ will be read the following day. A vote on the speech will be the first democratic test of “confidence” from Parliament that the Liberals must win to stay in power. However, the ongoing substantive test is to pass a budget in the House of Commons. The Liberals need a budget to be legitimate. The 'throne speech' sets the tone for the government's upcoming agenda, and the subsequent budget is expected to provide the financial details to support this agenda.

The Liberals were criticized for their ‘no-budget announcement’. It was outrageous that the government would not table a budget for over a year. Their excuse about too many moving parts to be accurate was not real. Competent bureaucrats could give 'best-and-worst' scenarios.

Canada needed a full budget in September at the latest. Their excuse implied that they did not take Parliament and legal governance seriously. A budget must honestly recount the international challenges, describe financial plans, and have them voted upon.

The Conservatives are right about the central behaviour of governance. The Prime Minister’s policy was demeaning to the nation and was not an acceptable standard. It seemed to be the slippery slope to despotism and top-down dictatorship by avoiding Parliament for its most central function.

By not attempting to come forward with an economic plan, they undermined any credibility about carefully managing public finances. Private sector business plans and the financial markets are left guessing. Private sector financing would be placed on hold.

By delaying in order to account for uncertainty, the government would create more uncertainty. Government bonds are used to raise funds. Investors will have less confidence in buying government bonds without a clear picture of the government's finances. Bond rating agencies would not like the government's failure to produce core financial documents.

The government uses “special warrants” to keep the lights on during elections. In May, a special warrant was issued to cover operating costs until June. These are "stopgap measures" that eventually must be voted on in Parliament.

Mr. Carney claimed during the election that he had a plan. He mocked the Conservatives by saying that a slogan is not a plan. However, the budget is the plan. Yet, the Liberals were saying ‘no budget’ and no prospect for one.

With all the government resources, there was no reason not to present a budget. The dishonesties were mounting up. They claimed to be fighting back against Trump's tariffs with Canadian tariffs, but then secretly removed them.

They also claimed to be the answer to the financial dilemma, but they had no budget plan. The repeated message was clear. The Liberal government would not table a federal budget this year. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne reconfirmed the policy to many media outlets.

Then days later, in answer to a media scrum in Rome, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday morning that he will table a Budget this fall. The change was a significant correction on the fly without a Cabinet meeting   —make it up as we go. Likely it was the Conservative response to the finance minister that revealed their serious error. They were embarrassed, as they had no plan when they claimed to have one. They were forced to change course to a sensible direction.

However, what does “the fall” mean? Maybe mid September or even December? Given all the dissembling and Liberal myth making, we must keep perspective, that Canada is about its people and the land, not the Liberal party. Canadians know what is needed, and they will eventually discover that the Liberals can’t deliver it.

 

Proved Accurate

The very day the election writ dropped on March 23, I published the following, and my article has proved accurate. “The media would try to make the election all about standing up to US President Trump, which is a deceptive issue. Trump will be Trump, regardless. No matter who is elected Canadian leader, Trump will remain his unpredictable self. The key to Canada’s success is finding better internal governance that can withstand any international challenge. Wise Canadians must take care of business without false distractions.”

Again, on April 6, I wrote that Trump was a deceptive distraction. However, during the election, the Liberals played the fear card. Lazy voters did not want to look deeply at policy, and especially the track record of Liberalism in Canada. When later questioned, few Liberal voters could say why they voted for Carney specifically. They never read a platform document. They wanted to believe the smear myths about Pierre Poilievre because they wanted Papa Carney to take care of them. They also wanted to forget and deny what Liberal policy had done to Canada. Carney was their comfort refuge and also their cover for denialism.

Canadian voters got played. Carney eventually had to visit Trump, which wasn't very pleasant for Canada. Astute readers of the White House of Donald Trump knew there would be no change or negotiation that Carney could make to have tariffs disappear. However, the Liberal machine played upon voters' fear, then offered Carney as the negotiator saviour of Canada. Voters were deceived. I knew that Trump would not change for Carney.

What Carney got in the Oval Office was no change to the substance or intent of trade policy. Carney got a smile, a handshake, a simple lunch, a reiteration of all that Trump has said about tariffs, and a repeat of the 'Canada 51st State' insult.

Sitting beside Carney, Trump was asked directly in the Oval Office if anything could be done to remove tariffs. Trump's direct and unequivocal response was a resounding “no” that left no room for doubt.

REPORTER: Tariffing Canada. Is there anything he (Carney) can say to you in the course of your meetings with them today that would get you to lift tariffs on Canada?

TRUMP: No.   REPORTER: Why not?   TRUMP: Just the way it is.

The only cover-up answer Carney could offer reporters later at the Canadian Embassy was that there is a "process" of discussing the larger Canada-USA relationship.

This directness of Trump's response underscores the futility of Carney dealing with Trump, and reveals the Liberal scam. It's time Canadians realized the Liberals played the system and misled voters into a false choice. 

The future for Canada is to rid ourselves of our political self-harm, and put the Canadian house in order with a Conservative Federal government as soon as possible.

Carney visits Trump

Prime Minister Carney met President Trump in the White House on May 6, 2025.

The legacy media hailed the meeting in the Oval Office as a success. However, no changes were made in the substance or intent of trade policy. Carney got a smile, a handshake, a simple lunch, a reiteration of all that Trump has said about tariffs, and a repeat of the 'Canada 51st State' insult.

The CBC pumped up praise for Prime Minister Carney for the accomplishment of the visit. He survived without humiliation or being “Zelenskyy'd". The notion is that if the USA and Canada keep talking, an economic war will cool as Canada negotiates and the USA dictates.

Canada may not have our best team in Washington DC, but it is all we have for ethereal reasons of TV image and personal impressions, not based on substance, policy, or values.

There was no “white smoke” from the Canadian Embassy. However, bilateral relations were in dark, smoky ruins from Trump's social media quotes and his hurtful "executive orders".

Conservatives are naturally patriotic and wish the Prime Minister success in dealing with the USA for Canada's best interests. Canadians and Americans need to understand the significant integrated nature of our economies. Canada is the USA's best economic customer, and it is the only country with some military integration with the USA. Our broad electrical grid is connected to the USA, as it purchases significant Canadian electrical energy. Our major oil pipelines go southward. This understanding is crucial for navigating the complexities of our economic relations.

Canada has always made cars, beginning with the 1904 Ford plant in Walkerville, Ontario. There is a long history of auto manufacturing at branch plants of American companies in Canada. Under current trade rules, there are no Canadian or American cars, as integration means mutually ours. Various car tariffs, such as the 1965 Auto Pact and the 1994 NAFTA, have been negotiated. Canada has historically sold forest products to the USA, but US protectionism has often disputed lumber trade agreements.

Canada will always trade with the USA, but Canada must first get its own house in order, to diversify international business. Canada should be a global economic leader, but socialist ideology has hurt our standard of living. Canada has natural resources and a skilled workforce that uses the latest technology. Yet it is Canada's fault that our economy has significantly fallen behind our competitors.

The Trudeau administration created a poor economic climate for growth. Consequently, international investment went elsewhere. Until a Conservative federal government can take office, we can only hope that the Liberals will keep borrowing from the Conservative political platform and make the required complete turnaround.

Canadians must politically support governance that is in their best interest. Sadly, during the election, astute readers of the White House of Donald Trump knew there would be no change or negotiation that Carney could make to have tariffs disappear. However, the Liberal machine played upon voters' fear, then offered Carney as the negotiator saviour of Canada. Voters were deceived, as insiders knew that Trump would not change for Carney. 

Sitting beside Carney, Trump was asked directly in the Oval Office if anything could be done to remove tariffs. Trump's direct and unequivocal response was a resounding “no” that left no room for doubt. 

REPORTER: Tariffing Canada. Is there anything he (Carney) can say to you in the course of your meetings with them today that would get you to lift tariffs on Canada?

TRUMP: No.   REPORTER: Why not?   TRUMP: Just the way it is.

The only cover-up answer Carney could offer reporters later at the Canadian Embassy was that there is a "process" of discussing the larger Canada-USA relationship.

This directness of Trump's response underscores the futility of the situation. It's time Canadians realized the Liberals scammed and misled into a false choice. The future for Canada is to rid ourselves of our political self-harm, and put the Canadian house in order with a Conservative federal government as soon as possible.

 

Election 2025 Observations

 

The April 28, 2025, Canadian federal election unfolded as a gripping drama.  The Conservatives, advocating for ‘change’, were poised for a victory, but the voters surprised everyone by choosing a familiar path with a Carney twist.  The Liberal Party, which had been on the brink of collapse under Justin Trudeau, experienced a remarkable resurgence with Mark Carney at the helm.  In a nail-biting finish, the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre and enjoying a significant lead in the polls, were narrowly overtaken at the finish line. 

Traditional third-party NDP support had been gradually dissolving, eventually coalescing behind their nearest policy cousin, the Liberals.  Their previous ‘confidence and supply agreement’ with the Liberals started the disaffection, but a likely Conservative election win sealed the fate, when many NDP voters held their nose and voted Liberal. 

The result was a significant victory for the Liberal government, which secured 43.5% of the popular vote, the best showing since 1980.  The Conservative opposition secured 41% of the vote, and the decimated NDP marked a clear shift in the political landscape.

In the 343 seat House of Commons, the Liberals secured 169, just three short of a majority in the House of Commons. Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party followed with 143 seats, even though he lost his parliamentary chair to a Liberal upstart.  That problem will soon be solved in a by-election.

The regional Bloc Québécois from Quebec won 23 seats and finished third.  Led by Yves-François Blanchet, the Bloc ran its usual separatist campaign based on Quebec’s autonomy and cultural pride but lost strength to the Liberals.  The New Democratic Party dropped to just seven seats, with leader Jagmeet Singh losing his riding, and the Green Party held onto a single seat.

The 2025 Canadian federal election witnessed a significant surge in voter participation, with 69% of registered voters casting their ballots.  This marked the highest voter turnout since 2015, signaling a heightened level of political engagement among Canadians.

Two events framed the election: Trudeau’s resignation and Donald Trump’s return as the U.S. President.  Together, these events changed the ballot questions, turning a contest about the faults of the Justin Trudeau administration into an image-impression contest over who might best deal with Donald Trump’s insults and tariff threats.

Some post-election observations can be made.

McLuhan's insight was that the media is the message.  This was a phrase coined by the Canadian communication theorist Marshall McLuhan and the title of the first chapter in his 1964 book ‘Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man’.

The media, particularly social media, played a pivotal role in the election.  Pierre Poilievre strategically leveraged platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok, and YouTube, using viral videos and catchy slogans like “Axe the Tax” to rally voters around affordability and housing issues.  Some even speculated that Poilievre could be the first social media personality to ascend to the position of Prime Minister.  In a departure from tradition, the Conservative campaign largely bypassed traditional mainstream media, viewing them as adversaries rather than allies.

In contrast, Mark Carney took a traditional approach, building relationships with legacy outlets.  Older voters still consume legacy media news, contributing to some of the Conservatives' loss of support.

Carney’s droll media image benefited from legacy media’s favourable coverage, highlighting experience and stability in contrast to Poilievre’s alleged confrontational style.  Carney’s dominance in legacy media helped frame the election as a choice between uncertainty and predictability, or perhaps risky change for competence.  Papa Carney would take care of you.  The election reaffirmed the importance of a multi-media strategy that has social media reach undergirded with traditional sources.

Carney seemed for many to be the right kind of guy for the moment.  Carney had never been elected or tested at the political level, so there was somewhat of a blank slate, which voters could then ascribe to him whatever they subconsciously needed.  He appeared to have a strong resume from the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England that projected competence during a crisis.  Carney offered a deliberate blend of pseudo-professionalism that reassured rattled voters.

Trump’s election, Trudeau’s demise, and replacement changed the ballot choice.  The legacy media played a pivotal role in shaping the narrative, making full play of every question for the Conservatives, and glossing over the reality of the real Mark Carney.

The Conservatives had built solid, hard-won support by crossing the country with a clear campaign repeating memorable slogans such as “Axe the Tax,” “Build the Homes,” “Fix the Budget,” and “Stop the Crime.”  The slogans were based upon ready legislation and detailed administrative policy changes that the Conservatives promised to implement quickly.

Poilievre’s opening theme boldly stated the obvious reality for many: ‘Canada was broken.’  Voters were exhausted from the Liberal government’s inept and erratic rule during COVID-19.  Canada also had a housing crisis made worse by a Liberal administration that allowed too many immigrants within a year.  Inflation and crime were significant disenchantments.  The colossal national debt and mounting interest payments were very worrisome.

When Chrystia Freeland resigned as Finance Minister on December 16, 2024, just before she was to deliver the fall economic statement, it was a direct fatal move against Prime Minister Trudeau.  During the Christmas break, the Liberal Party looked like it was dissolving in the polls, with Poilievre’s Conservatives with 45% support, 21% for the NDP, 16% for the Liberal Party, and 11% for the Bloc Québécois.  Trudeau was forced to resign on January 6, 2025.  Mark Carney soon emerged from the political mess as the replacement Prime Minister.

Donald Trump's return to the White House and the launch of a trade war were traumatic and enraging experiences for Canadians.  Trump’s musing that Canada should be the 51st state of the USA was the supreme insult.  This led to a surge of nationalism, with Canadians boycotting USA-made products and cancelling cross-border travel, highlighting the tension and uncertainty in Canadian politics.

In response to the Trump challenge, Carney’s first acts were to scrap the consumer part of the carbon tax and reverse Trudeau’s capital gains tax hike, thus signalling a policy shift.  He borrowed the Conservative policy goal to realize Canada’s constitution as one economic unit.  In an emotional response, Canadians overwhelmingly supported political talk of tariff retaliation. 

Carney then visited the leaders of England, France, and the European Union instead of Donald Trump.  The political image-making was clear, and Carney was doing the obvious.  Canada must become less dependent on the unreliable USA.  However, Carney required political legitimacy for his leadership, so he duly called a national election for April 28^th.

During the federal election, the Conservatives called for ‘change,’ but voters did not care much about carbon taxes, Justin Trudeau, or policy slogans. They became rather vaguely emotional about who would comfort and protect Canada in a time of sudden uncertainty.

Carney played the fear card and warned repeatedly that Trump “wants to break us so America can own us.”  This new political drama put the Conservatives in an undefined position.  The truth for Canada was our internal governance, the failures of the Liberal political philosophy, and the many internal practical fixes and policy changes that were greatly needed. 

However, many voters seemed spooked and simply opted for the easy answer: comforting Mark Carney.  Compared to Poilievre’s assertive style, which he had used to wake up Canada and say that help and relief were on the way with ‘change’, voters saw Carney as the comforting daddy ‘adult in the room’. 

No matter how Poilievre tried to place Carney into the Justin Trudeau narrative, fear and comfort without reflective analysis carried the Liberals forward.  When asked why voters chose, it was never about reading a Party platform.  Few could cogently state anything Carney promised about a future vision or plan for the country when directly questioned.  Liberal voters had a vague impression that their best bet was with Carney because of Trump.  The new version of the Liberals also allowed political denialism of what the Liberal Party had done to Canada.  Reactive support for Carney allowed past political sins to be suppressed and forgotten. 

Poilievre’s inability to pivot politically in his message was the chattering class's narrative.  They did not hear or want to listen to the relevant policy message that Canada had to get its own house in order to face all challenges, whether they be Trump or other international economic shocks.

Poilievre’s Conservatives campaigned for years on anti-carbon tax and anti-Justin Trudeau political philosophy.  As Poilievre’s points scored home, the defense was that his rhetoric often echoed Trump’s populist slogans.  Since admission of guilt or policy change would not be forthcoming from Liberals, the response was a smear about Poilievre’s style rather than substance. 

However, Poilievre adapted with a ‘Canada First’ message.  His reminders about the cost of living, high taxes, and crime didn’t break through the voter fog until the campaign's last week, when Conservatives appeared to be gaining momentum, but it was somewhat late.

Pierre Poilievre created a larger Conservative coalition, but in the process, he pushed most NDP voters into the arms of Mark Carney.  That is the backhanded Liberal explanation.  In truth, NDP voters were becoming disenchanted, but they had lived for generations on false anti-conservative myths and resentment.  The NDP's collapse was mainly internal, eventually unfolding into a two-party contest.  The NDP voting coalition with the Liberals had made them both accountable for the administrative record of failure. 

If Canada evolves temporarily into a two-party format, Poilievre must heal some relationships and further broaden the Conservative base.  The 2025 election wasn’t just a contest of parties or political philosophies—it was a contest of tone and vague leadership style in a world turned upside down by Trump.

When Canadians were forced to choose between a combative populist who uncovered the sins of the mighty, and a calm technocrat ready to provide a haven to cover shame, many chose the myth of stability and comfort wrapped in a renewed love of our flag.

The outcome was a rebalance in voting patterns and the temporary emergence of a two-party focus, with a stronger Conservative movement and a resurrection of the Liberal Party.  It was image over substance. 

Liberal Budget Fail

Liberal Budget Fail   April 21, 2025

The Liberal platform promises $130 billion in new measures over four years, adding $225 billion to federal debt. It is hurtful that Justin Trudeau's style of economics is repeated. Mark Carney, the banker, is revealed to be worse at financial management than the previous Liberal finance minister, Chrystia Freeland. There was no timeline to balance the federal budget to end Canada’s downward spiral.

The Liberals are adding new measures over the next four years, that when combined with existing spending, will add $225 billion to the federal debt. This is all borrowed money that Canada does not have. Carney also had to admit that the federal public service had grown at an unsustainable rate of 40% over the last decade under the Liberal administration, but he offered no plausible remedy. This significant increase in debt could lead to higher taxes, reduced government services, and increased interest payments, all of which will have profound implications for Canada's financial future.

One of the largest spending initiatives in the election platform unveiled Saturday is a 1%-point reduction in the lowest income tax rate from 15% to 14%.

There is also a promise to increase defense spending by $18 billion to meet the 2% NATO spending target.

Carney's plan to increase home building is to create a new agency called Build Canada Homes (BCH), which will cost about $3 billion annually. However, there are concerns that this will likely create another inefficient bureaucracy rather than properly incentivize the private sector for home building. The problem is that a government agency is not as efficient or innovative as the private sector in addressing the housing crisis, and the $ 3 billion annual cost could be better spent on other initiatives.

If re-elected, the Liberals promise to provide municipalities with $1.5 billion per year in funding to help reduce the development charges they impose on new construction.

The Liberals describe spending in four main areas:

Social: This category includes supporting the arts, rural transit, Indigenous loan guarantees, and CBC/Radio-Canada. When taken together, infrastructure funding for projects such as high-speed rail, community, and health infrastructure comes to $20 billion over four years.

Security: This file includes the $18 billion in defense spending and more than $4 billion in tariff response funding. It includes about $1.7 billion in additional spending for the RCMP to train more personnel, establish a new training academy, and boost basic pay for recruits.

Protection: This category includes healthcare initiatives such as medical school residencies and youth mental health. When combined, the healthcare initiatives will cost $3.5 billion over the next four years.

Building: The last category includes the $22 billion for housing. It also consists of the $12.5 billion for scrapping their previous mistake on capital gains taxation and the $12.5 billion to extend the Accelerated Investment Incentive.

Revenues: The Liberals only account for tariff revenue in the first year of the four-year plan. Their fantasy wish is that the consequences of the Trump tariffs will have passed by in a year or so.

This year's operating budget deficit is predicted to be just over $9 billion, a staggering figure that the Liberal platform predicts can be reduced to a mere $220 million by 2028-29. This significant deficit raises serious concerns about Canada's financial future, underscoring the urgency.

Overall, in 2025-26, the Liberal platform predicts that the annual deficit will be $62.3 billion. They hope the debt-to-GDP ratio will drop the following year as the annual deficit shrinks to $60 billion. They overlook how rising interest payments crowd out available funds for healthcare support.

In the fall economic statement, the deficit in 2025-26 was projected to be $42.2 billion before dropping to $31 billion in 2026-27. Consequently, the Liberals' financial projections prove to be little more than wishful thinking.

In traditional Liberal fashion, the gap between promise and reality is never reconciled. This lack of transparency and accountability is disappointing, as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pointed out that Carney's platform would make life even more expensive. Mr. Carney plans to run an even bigger inflationary deficit than Justin Trudeau had budgeted, which should make us more skeptical and cautious about the Liberals’ financial promises.

Pierre Poilievre said Mark Carney’s fiscal plan is a ’sneaky accounting trick’ to avoid balancing the budget. Carney promised to split the budget into two streams—capital and operating spending—by balancing the operating side while running capital spending deficits. Given the new Liberal document, Canada would be seriously hurt financially with Carney Liberals at the helm.

Trump is a deceptive distraction. April 6, 2025

 

Trump is a deceptive distraction. April 6, 2025

The media's attempt to steer the election towards standing up to US President Trump is a deceptive distraction. Trump will be Trump, regardless of who leads Canada. His global tariffs have affected many, and Canada is just a small part of his scheme. Carney, with no unique insight or skill to deal with Trump's tariffs, is not the solution. The key to Canada's success lies in our ability to achieve better internal governance that can withstand any international challenge. Carney’s approach has already failed Canada. It's time for wise Canadians to focus on our own issues and not be swayed by false distractions. The answer lies in a majority Conservative government.

For voters, the question of which Canadian prime minister can best deal with Trump is incorrect. The intelligent question is, who can best get our own house in order to then deal with all challenges, such as China, the US, and Russian subversion? Who can best lead this country back to its prominence for the next four years? Ten years of Liberal rule has left us in a state of ruin, and another four years of the same people and a Liberal PM will not fix it. A Conservative majority government is the beacon of hope in an uncertain world. Conservatives saved Canada in the last international financial meltdown in 2008; the same philosophical economic approach can save us again. Donald Trump shouldn't be the excuse for 'Liberal failure'

Dour Mark Carney says he wants to earn the right to remain PM. However, his economic policies have already failed, and he is presenting essentially the same old Cabinet that has devastated Canada. He is trying to show the government as new, and that all past sins and hurtful Liberal philosophy have been washed away. His mantra about a "new government" is dishonest beyond belief.

Carney says in a TV commercial, with soft tones, sitting comfortably dressed in a sweater, that Canada used to build things like homes for average-income people. He does not admit that it was Liberal government policies that hurt Canada, to put us where we are concerning house building. He was the prominent economic adviser to the Liberals and essentially wrote their last Budget. Carney is saying he can rescue Canada from himself. Intelligent people don’t buy it. His list of false statements grows.

Leonard Waverman, professor emeritus and former dean of finance at McMaster University, said. “A Mark Carney win would be good for Donald Trump. When I read about the very pleasant exchanges between President Trump and Liberal leader Mark Carney, I was a bit surprised. Why would President Trump seem to enjoy a conversation with someone like Carney, a proverbial global elitist, educated at Oxford and a former bank governor in Canada and then the UK ?”

“Furthermore, Carney is a committed environmentalist—including being the co-chair for the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) and the UN special envoy for climate action—something that Trump normally abhors.”

“It almost causes one’s Machiavellian hat to pop on their head. Ostensibly, everyone in the US administration has known about Canada's poor economic performance since 2014. Flat-lined GNP per capita growth, the lowest labour productivity growth of any economy in the West, large budgetary deficits, and anemic real growth. Most of this happened during the Liberal government's nearly ten years in office.”

“Pinning all of that on the Liberals alone might not be fair, but the party under Trudeau does deserve much of the blame. Canada's dismal innovation and productivity performance did not galvanize them into action while in government. Instead, the Liberals seemed to be more concerned with Canadian content on television and social media.”

“But still, why would Trump prefer Canada to have Carney and another four years of Liberals instead of Pierre Poilievre, who has a real growth agenda? The answer may be simple: the US under Trump does not want a stronger, more productive Canada, one infused with real growth and that can compete with US energy exports. You can't ride a strong, prosperous, and economically secure Canada into oblivion or make it the 51st state.”

“And the Liberals seem to be playing into Trump's hand. Carney stated that reducing the cap on oil and gas emissions would be good since Canada could develop more energy resources. His natural resources minister quickly rebuked him, stating that the cap would remain. Carney quickly reversed himself. To see the supposed saviour of Liberal Party fortunes unable to change his own party's policy is telling.”

“It shows that the Liberal Party, if given another four-year mandate, will be the same party of the last decade, with a new titular leader but with many of the same ruinous policies in place. Bad for Canada, but good for Trump for making America great again.”

On the local scene, Carney does not know Nepean, the riding he's running in. Does Mark Carney know where the Walter Baker Centre is or who it’s named after? Or about the history of the Nepean bell or Ken Ross Park? These are questions locals would have asked him, given the chance, writes Charlie Senack in the Ottawa Citizen.

Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney was in Ottawa recently, but the local news media had very little luck covering his campaign. Locations of his events were kept secret, access to local journalists was denied, and no questions were answered from reporters. This lack of transparency is an insult to Nepean residents, who have the right to hear from the man whose name will be on the ballot in their riding.

It all began on Saturday when local journalists were told they could not cover Carney’s campaign launch in Nepean. On Sunday, Carney had two campaign stops in Canada’s capital, but the events were closed to all media, national or local. “Where’s the transparency or public accountability?” says Charlie Senack

Journalists have a lot of questions. This is one of the most monumental elections in Canadian history. Nepean residents want to meet the man who hopes to represent that riding and hold the county’s top job. Their trust is understandably low.

Since 2015, Nepean has been served by Liberal Chandra Arya, who was told just days before the election call that he would not be allowed to run under the Liberal party banner. In January, he was kicked out of the Liberal leadership race, but no official reasons were given. Subsequent media reports suggest it was related to a trip Arya made to India in 2024. Whatever the reason, Canadians deserve to know.

Charlie Senack writes about Carney's slim connection to Nepean. Nepean is far from home for Carney, who lives in Rockcliffe Park. The differences between the two districts are hard to miss.

Nepean is a suburb with about 130,000 residents. Most working-class folk send their kids to public schools, attend fitness classes at the Minto Recreation Centre, and meet for coffee at the local Timmys. The average income is $62,000. Rockcliffe Park is for the wealthy: the average income there is about $256,000. The homes are lavish, lifestyles differ, and many kids attend private school.

Perhaps Carney needs to brush up on his local history. During his speech outside Rideau Hall on March 23, he mistakenly said Bells Corners was part of Nepean. Surely any candidate should know that a riding review has moved that neighbourhood into Kanata-Carleton.

The party also cannot underestimate the power of the Conservatives. Party Leader Pierre Poilievre used to represent the Nepean riding. This time around, Barbara Bal's name is on the ballot. She lives there, has served on the Fallowfield Village Community Association, and has been knocking on doors for 18 months. Is Carney the change Nepean needs? Of course not.

Mark Carney is a mirage—a reasonable facsimile floated by a honeymoon period of hopes, and for now, a lot of willful blindness by the media about his past. To our detriment, some Canadians will not see it for what it is. Carney's myth-making goes to character. Unlike his comical memory lapses, he has been caught in several lies and outright exaggerations in the campaign. He is not a leader to get the Canadian house in order.

The best way to promote Canada’s interests, defend against trade provocations, and create more substantial international trade options, is to finally deal with our internal political weaknesses, and elect a majority Conservative government under leader Pierre Poilievre. Keep the best and fix the rest.

Carney would have us become more European. Trump wants us to become Americans. Conservatives want us to be even more Canadian. Only Conservatives will restore Canada's promise: where hard work results in a good life—a home on a safe street, protected by solid borders and proper law enforcement, under a proud flag. Canadians must put Canada first.

Brian Lilley in The Sun says it very clearly. "It appears that for some Canadians, the only issue on the ballot for the upcoming federal election is Donald Trump. That’s odd because Trump doesn’t live here, he’s not Canadian, he doesn’t vote here, and he doesn’t invent or implement Canadian policies.”

“Yet, after nearly a decade of the same party in power, a party that was quite unpopular until recently due to their policies, we could very well re-elect the Liberals – not because of them or their leader but because of Trump.” “While the Liberals have changed leaders from Justin Trudeau to Mark Carney, the team around Carney is the same. The thinking that Carney is putting forward is mostly the same as we saw under Justin Trudeau. So, why reward them by giving them another mandate just because of Trump? It wasn't Donald Trump who gave us rising unemployment; it was the Liberals. The Friday report's unemployment rate rose to 6.7% compared to 5% two years ago.”

Pierre Poilievre continues to campaign across the country about vital Canadian issues. He has not succumbed to the ‘talking heads’ about how he must pivot and talk mostly against Trump. This is a Canadian election. It is about replacing our failed economic and social philosophy and bad actors who now have a new frontman. The election is about supporting ethical and wise governance in Canada's daily life. When we get ourselves in order as a nation, Canada can face any challenge and win.

 Compiled by Paul Forseth