King Charles III will deliver the Speech from the Throne, officially opening parliament and outlining the gov'ts legislative programme for the upcoming session, at 11:00ET (16:00BST, 17:00CET). While setting out the policy priorities for Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority Liberal party administration, the tone and text of the speech will also be closely scrutinised amid the sharp deterioration in US-Canadian relations in recent months.
- The King, in Canada for a short visit, will be the first reigning monarch to deliver the Speech from the Throne in person since his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, did so in 1977. The fact that the King accepted Carney's invitation to read the speech has been viewed as an implicit rebuke to US President Donald Trump regarding his inflammatory comments regarding Canadian sovereignty.
- In terms of policy impact, Politico notes that observers will "parse every pledge, comparing phrasing and level of urgency to the Liberal campaign platform and last week's mandate letter."
- The mandate letter offered a brief list of seven priorities: establishing a new economic and security relationship with the US while diversifying trade; removing barriers to interprovincial trade; tackling inflation, making housing more affordable; strengthening the armed forces and law enforcement; attracting talent while restoring 'sustainable' immigration; and spending less on gov't operations.
- In an interview with MNI former deputy leader of the opposition Conservatives, Lisa Raitt, highlighted that Carney's perceived 'pragmatism' on policy could see his minority administration last longer than most others (see 'MNI INTERVIEW: Carney Minority Govt To Last On Economy').