OTTAWA 鈥 Prime Minister Mark Carney put down a king Friday in his high-stakes negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, announcing King Charles will read his new government鈥檚 first throne speech later this month.
Carney made the announcement during his first news conference since winning a minority government in Monday’s election.
“We will have the privilege of welcoming His Majesty King Charles III, who will deliver Canada’s speech from the throne on May 27,” Carney said.
The speech from the throne is typically delivered by the Governor General, the King’s representative in Canada. The last time a monarch delivered the throne speech in Canada was in 1977.
Carney announced he will travel to Washington on Tuesday to meet with Trump. The U.S. president has repeatedly challenged Canada鈥檚 sovereignty since his election last year, imposing tariffs on Canadian imports and suggesting Canada should become his country’s 51st state.
Carney said the King’s presence will serve as a clear reminder that Canada will never be a part of the United States.
鈥淚 made the request of his majesty, and he has accepted. He will open Parliament with the speech from the throne and that clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country,鈥 he said.
Trump is known to be a fan of the royal family. During a visit to the U.S. in February, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented him with an invitation from the King to a state dinner in the U.K.
The Bloc Qu茅b茅cois welcomed the quick return to Parliament, but said having King Charles open the new session shows the Liberals are out of touch with Quebecers.
鈥淢ark Carney, in order to embody the attributes of Canadian sovereignty, is inviting a foreign monarch to inaugurate the legislature of which he will be prime minister,鈥 the party said in a written statement in French.
Carney also said he would appoint his cabinet during the week of May 12 and that Parliament will return on May 26, with the throne speech the following day.
He said he expects the conversations and negotiations with Trump will be difficult.
鈥淚’m not pretending those discussions will be easy. They won’t proceed in a straight line. There will be zigs and zags, ups and downs,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 will fight for the best deal for Canada and only accept the best deal for Canada and take as much time as necessary.鈥
Carney said Trump did not mention his 51st state claims during a phone call last week, and stressed that the idea remains a non-starter for Canadians no matter what the U.S. president says.
鈥淚t’s always important to distinguish want from reality,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hat the Canadian people clearly have stated, virtually without exception, is this will never, ever happen.鈥
After the Liberals fell just a few seats short of a majority government in Monday鈥檚 election. Carney said he intends to work with the opposition parties.
鈥淲e are in a once in a lifetime crisis,” he said. “It’s time to come together, to put on our Team Canada’s sweaters,鈥 he said.
Beyond the Trump threat, Carney said he knows Canadians also want progress on domestic issues.
鈥淐anadians also sent a clear message that their cost of living must come down, and their communities need to be safe. As prime minister, I’ve heard these messages loud and clear, and I will act on them with focus and determination,鈥 he said.
鈥淚 will unveil more of our plans to engage with Canadians as we embark on the biggest transformation of our economy since the end of the Second World War.鈥
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