King Charles has said Canadians can “give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away” as he gave a rare speech in the country’s parliament that served as a rebuke of the US president, Donald Trump, and his threats to annex the country. Charles, who serves as Canada’s head of state, is the first British monarch since 1957 to preside over the opening of a new Canadian parliament. In a speech attended by lawmakers, Indigenous leaders and dignitaries, Charles, on his 20th visit, praised a country he said he loved “so much”. “The True North is indeed strong and free,” he said – a reference to both the Canadian national anthem and recent threats from Trump to make Canada the 51st state. The speech from the throne, typically given by the governor general, is meant to outline the government’s plans for the next session. The speech is written by the prime minister’s office in consultation with staff at the king’s office. The king made no direct reference to Trump but his language was closely watched for implicit criticisms of the US president and his dramatic recasting of the US relationship with Canada. “Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect,” said Charles, telling attenders, that by “staying true to Canadian values”, the country could “build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians”. The king alluded to efforts to ease tensions with the US. “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 US, rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests, to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.” Not every party supported the presence of Charles, however. The separatist Bloc Québécois was absent – as they typically are during the speech – in protest over the address by a “foreign king”. “To assert Canada’s sovereignty, we seek the symbol of the fact that Canada has the King of England as its sovereign,” said leader Yves-François Blanchet in the days leading up to the speech. “There is a complete inconsistency which seems to reflect [prime minister Mark] Carney’s personal sympathies rather than a relevant reading of Quebec’s sensibility.” More details soon …
Author: Leyland Cecco in Toronto