May 30, AD2025
Canada Knows No King But The King In The North Whose Name Is Windsor
Top US News Stories
US Administration Doubles Steel Tariffs
President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, aiming to bolster the U.S. steel industry.
Elon Musk Departs Government Role
The billionaire triple-citizen (South African, Canadian, and since 2002 a naturalized American) Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, stepped down from his position in the Trump administration as the head of the presidentially-created department of Government Efficiency or DOGE, named after a meme cryptocurrency favored by Musk. He leaves after failing to cut the $2 trillion he promised from the federal budget, and with much of the federal bureaucracy demoralized after the on-again, off-again firings and office closures, denting his image as a savvy manager. Some, however, speculate that Musk is either incompetent or actually used DOGE to gain illegal access to private data, and potentially profit from his access to government systems.
Supreme Court Allows TPS Revocation
The Supreme Court permitted the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status for over 300,000 refugees, intensifying debates over immigration policies.
Federal Judge Blocks Tariff Expansion
The United States Court of International Trade blocked Trump's proposed "liberation day" tariffs, ruling they exceeded presidential authority under emergency economic powers legislation.
Then another court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal District, put them back in place. This highlights the need for the US to reform its administrative law and constitutional court system.
PBS Sues Over Funding Cuts
PBS filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's executive order to revoke federal funding, citing First Amendment violations. They join several states, universities, and other government and private entities suing the US Administration for violating the Constitution or federal law.
News From Europe - Hands Across the Water
Israel Accuses the French President of “crusade” against the Jewish state. However, due to American goading, European leaders are taking more independent action, increasing their criticism of Israel.
Hungary-Ukraine Relations Deteriorate
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces criticism for allegedly using a Ukrainian spy controversy to bolster his political standing, straining relations with Ukraine. Hungary is accused of running a major espionage operation in western Ukraine, leading to arrests on both sides.
Elbows Up in Canada - The King in the North
King Charles III of Canada opened Parliament this week with a Speech from the Throne of Canada, the first since the 1950s to be read by the monarch in person. He gave the Throne Speech from the temporary home site of the Canadian Senate, the Canadian counterpart of the House of Lords, while the official parliamentary buildings on Parliament Hill undergo renovations.
The king began with acknowledgments of Canada's indigenous heritage and a remembrance of Canadian forces’ participation in the Allies' victory during the Second World War.
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.
He continued invoking the Second World War and providing hints at the silent and bold moves the new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, will embark on:
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 hint that America is not reliable
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.
Furthermore, the king announced the commitment of the Liberal government to addressing the economic challenges of immigration and fiscal needs:
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.
He ended by invoking the memory of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
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.
On social media, Canadians embraced the monarch’s reference to the True North. In the parade held before the speech, the crowds could be heard shouting “Long Live the King!” at intervals. Canadians are once again embracing the monarchy in contradistinction to the United States; this will not subside for quite some time. American calculus regarding Canada will have to take Canadian nationalism more seriously.