Michael Taube

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are in Canada for a two-day visit. It’s their first trip to my country since the coronation. They’ve enjoyed touring parts of the nation’s capital, Ottawa. They’ve met with dignitaries and political leaders, and been greeted by large crowds that, in the words of the Ottawa Citizen, would be described as ‘exuberant.’ The main reason for King Charles’s visit is of historical importance and relevance to both Britain and Canada. His Majesty was invited by Prime Minister Mark Carney to deliver the throne speech for his Liberal government. It’s only the third time in Canadian history this has ever occurred, and the first time in decades.

Canada went to the polls on Monday. The election campaign only ran for 37 days, but it was a wild ride with shifts in political momentum that few could have predicted.   Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau on March 14, won last night. It’s the fourth consecutive Liberal win, but it will be its third straight minority government. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre had the best result for the Conservatives since 1988 but ended up losing his seat. Left-leaning parties like the Bloc Quebecois (BQ), Greens and New Democrats (NDP) all lost seats and popular support, too. This could lead to an unusual series of political scenarios for both main parties.

As widely expected, Mark Carney has become the new Liberal party of Canada leader – and will become Canada’s next prime minister.  The former Bank of England and Bank of Canada governor won by an overwhelming margin on Sunday, taking 85.9 per cent of the vote. Former Liberal deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland finished a distant second with 8 per cent. Carney will now meet with outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to set a timetable for the transition of power. The fact that Carney won isn’t a surprise. What is surprising is many Liberals have put their faith in someone who doesn’t have any political experience. Carney has never held or run for a political seat.

US President Donald Trump’s long-standing threat to enact 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico didn’t materialise yesterday. Both countries were granted 30-day reprieves on Monday after they agreed to Trump’s demands to stop the flow of illegal immigration and illicit drugs like fentanyl across the American border. Discussions related to tariffs and trade will be conducted during this time, too. ‘I just had a good call with President Trump,’ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote in a post on X. ‘Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan – reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl.

Canada’s long national nightmare is finally coming to an end. Justin Trudeau has announced he is resigning as leader of the Liberal party of Canada. He will remain prime minister until his replacement is announced in a forthcoming leadership race, and has prorogued parliament until 2 March. What took Trudeau so long to read the tea leaves that have been available for consumption for what seemed like an eternity? His poll numbers, as well as his government’s, have been disastrous for years. The Liberals are well behind Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives. One recent Angus Reid Institute poll had the Liberals at a record-low 16 per cent.  That’s a question only he can answer, but we can speculate on possible reasons.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been walking on a political tightrope for years. His balance is unsteady. The threads of the rope are fraying. Yet, somehow, Trudeau keeps managing to stay upright.  Trudeau should have prorogued parliament or resigned years ago It’s not due to skill or political savvy. That Trudeau has survived so far is mainly down to sheer dumb luck. His minority Liberal governments have survived solely because of mathematical logistics of seat tallies rather than any popular legislation he has passed. He’s faced Conservative opposition leaders who have imploded. He’s been propped up by the New Democratic party, Canada’s socialist alternative, which has supported Trudeau’s party in a supply and confidence agreement for over two years.

President-elect Donald Trump confirmed this week that he’s going to fulfil his campaign pledges on tariffs. There will be a 10 per cent tariff on China for failing to stop the flow of the illegal drug Fentanyl into America. And, he’ll put in place 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico and Canada because of their inability to stop illegal drugs and migrants crossing the US border. This puts Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a difficult spot. Trudeau isn’t a strong political leader like Trump. He’s weak, ineffective and a political lightweight ‘As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,’ Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Barely a week has gone by before Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is back in the news again – and for all the wrong reasons. Trudeau and his Liberal government have been involved in a litany of mistakes, missteps and messes since they took power in 2015. These include previous allegations of the PM wearing blackface, ethics breaches, questionable spending history – and more. And now a new incident this week can be added to the list. This controversy, more than most, seems particularly egregious. The Globe and Mail’s blistering story alleged that then-National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan instructed Canada’s Armed Forces to focus on rescuing about 225 Sikhs in Afghanistan during the 2021 fall of Kabul.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in a state of desperation. His minority Liberal government has been polling behind Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives for the better part of two years. They’re down in most opinion polls by 15 to 18 points, and only have the support of 23 to 26 per cent of the Canadian electorate. His left-leaning policies have turned off many Canadians, including fellow Liberals. His standing in the international community barely has a pulse. His personal popularity numbers continue to plummet. How is Trudeau still in power? Because he signed a three-year work-and-supply agreement with Jagmeet Singh’s New Democrats – who are also struggling mightily in the polls – that doesn’t expire until June 2025.

Canada, like many countries, has certain limitations in place related to foreign investment and ownership – in everything from large-scale businesses to sports teams. These anti-free market, anti-capitalist measures are bad enough on their own, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals have found a way to make these restrictions even worse. The Canadian government announced last week that the existing ban on foreign nationals from purchasing residential property has been extended until 2027. The only exceptions to the rule will be asylum seekers, some international students and temporary workers.  For potential foreigner home buyers, including thousands of British expats, this is terrible news. Which isn’t to say they didn’t expect it.

Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, have jointly announced on their Instagram accounts that they are separating after 18 years of marriage: Hi everyone, Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate. As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build. For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy. Thank you.