OTTAWA — At the end of this month, King Charles will travel to Ottawa to read the Speech from the Throne as a demonstration of his commitment to supporting Canadian sovereignty, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Friday.
Announcing this during his inaugural press conference following the recent election that secured another consecutive term for the Liberals on Monday, he outlined key focuses for his initial period in office. He pledged to initiate “the most significant economic overhaul since the conclusion of World War II.”
“This promises to be an immensely thrilling period as we seize control of our economic future to build a new Canadian economy that benefits all,” Carney stated during a press briefing at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa.
Next week marks the initial move towards realizing this commitment when Carney sits down with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. This meeting fulfills their pledge from the opening days of the electoral campaign to initiate discussions for a fresh security and economic agreement once the Canadian elections concluded.
During the week of May 12, Carney stated that he would announce his new cabinet, noting that it hadn’t been finalized yet. On March 14, Carney had named 23 individuals to his initial cabinet, a reduction from the previous total of 39 ministers who served under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Although Carney didn’t disclose the size of the upcoming cabinet, he mentioned that he plans to uphold the practice started by Trudeau, ensuring equal representation between genders among his key officials.
Carney stated that Parliament will reconvene on May 26, with the King scheduled to deliver the speech on May 27, detailing the new administration’s key objectives. This visit marks King Charles’s inaugural Canadian excursion following his coronation.
Carney mentioned that he extended an invitation to King Charles and Queen Camilla to kick off this parliamentary session because it highlights Canadian sovereignty amid former U.S. President Donald Trump’s discussions about annexation.
“This is a historical honor befitting the significance of our era,” Carney stated.
The royals last visited Canada in May 2022, and have been silent regarding Trump’s talk of annexing Canada. The British government has sought to use the royals to improve Trump’s relations with the U.K., giving Trump an invitation in March to meet King Charles.
Carney stated that during a telephone conversation with Trump on Tuesday, the president did not mention the possibility of Canada turning into a U.S. state.
The prime minister stated his intention to collaborate positively with other political parties and commended Canadians for their commitment to the democratic process amid challenges faced by democracies globally. However, he clarified that the Liberals have ruled out entering into an official agreement with the NDP to sustain the minority government.
Carney mentioned that his key legislative goals consist of implementing a middle-class tax reduction effective by July, broadening the dental care program to cover eight million individuals, and introducing several initiatives aimed at addressing the housing crisis.
Carney and Trump have talked over the phone two times recently, including on Tuesday, however, their meeting scheduled for May 6 at the White House will mark their first in-person encounter.
“Are we planning to work together in these strategic areas such as critical minerals, the auto industry, aluminum — there are instances like this in the energy field too — or will we be splitting up the North American market? The direction isn’t clear,” Carney stated in French.
The second option isn’t ideal; this much is evident. However, should he desire, Canada presents alternative choices.
Carney stated his plan to utilize the upcoming G7 leaders’ summit in Alberta next month as an opportunity to promote Canadian interests globally.
He stated, ‘We will reinforce our ties with dependable trade partners and allies.’ He added, ‘Canada possesses what the global community requires, and we adhere to the principles esteemed around the world.’
The Liberals secured 168 seats in the election, falling short by four seats required for them to achieve a majority government.
When queried about his intention to lure MPs from other parties to form a majority government, Carney stated that his party already possesses a robust mandate, boasting representation across all provinces along with a significant portion of overall votes.
He also stated that he wouldn’t pursue a formal arrangement with the NDP to prevent an early election. His predecessor, Justin Trudeau, entered into a confidence-and-supply pact with the NDP, and political parties have the option of forming coalition governments as well.
“In order to do what we need to do as a country … we will need to work in partnership with all the provinces, with Indigenous Peoples,” he said.
Carney mentioned that he recently engaged in highly productive discussions with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet.
Poilievre failed to retain his seat during the election, and on Friday, the Conservatives revealed that Alberta MP Damien Kurek will resign to create an opening for Poilievre to contest in an upcoming by-election.
Carney stated he would schedule the byelection once the Conservatives request it, dispelling notions that he might keep Poilievre from returning to the House of Commons for over six months by postponing the byelection call as much as possible.
“No games, nothing. Directly,” Carney stated.
The Conservatives secured 144 seats, the Bloc Québécois obtained 23, the NDP claimed seven, and the Green Party won one seat.
Since the election, Carney has communicated with several global leaders such as King Charles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Council President Antonio Costa, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
On Friday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith posted on social media stating she had a “constructive initial discussion” with Carney. According to her account, their extensive talk covered various policies and laws hindering Alberta’s energy sector, as well as plans for initiatives and legal changes aimed at substantially improving market accessibility for products from Alberta. They also addressed the continuing trade conflict with the United States during this exchange.
“The Prime Minister made it clear he intended to rapidly advance these kinds of nation building projects in the coming weeks and months,” Smith said. “Repairing the damage to Alberta’s economy caused by Ottawa’s last 10-years of anti-resource legislation and policies will take tremendous effort and co-operation, however, today’s conversation was a positive first step.”
The report from The Canadian Press was initially released on May 2, 2025.
Dylan Robertson from The Canadian Press
