King Charles says Canada would remain ‘strong and free’ in speech from the throne
Charles, who is speaking during a symbolic visit to show support for Canada at a time it has faced US annexation threats, expresses his love for Canada and says the country would remain “strong and free” – a reference to the Canadian national anthem.
Key events
‘The True North is indeed strong and free,” Charles quotes Canadian national anthem to conclude throne speech
He says Canada continues to set an example to the world as a “force for good”.
“As the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free!” he says, ending the speech to a standing ovation and applause.
‘There is no better time to come home,’ throne speech tells Canadians abroad
He says the the government will always protect the rights and freedoms that the charter guarantees for every Canadian.
He says it will be a “reliable partner” to indigenous people, adding that the creation of their “long-term wealth and prosperity” is central to its commitment.
On immigration, Charles outlines the government’s new policies to slow down the rate while attracting foreign talent.
The government’s policy also sends a message to Canadians abroad that “there is no better time to come home”, he says.
Canadians are “uniting behind what makes Canada unique” during a time of “great change”, says Charles.
He celebrates the French language and the Quebec culture and says Canada respects its official and Indigenous languages. (This is in marked contrast to Trump’s executive order designating English as the official language of the United States).
Hesays the government is “determined to protect” the institutions which bring these to the world, such as Radio Canada. (Again, this is in marked contrast to Trump’s treatment of US public broadcasters).
He adds that the government will protect Canada’s nature “more than ever before”.
Charles outlines Carney’s priorities for addressing the housing shortage and strengthening Canada’s borders, saying law enforcement will get new tools to stop the flow of fentanyl and its precursors. (You will remember that fentanyl is a top priority for the Trump administration, and it’s one of the reasons the US has cited for raising trade tariffs on Canada).
He also talks through measures to protect Canadians, including hiring more police, and focusing on reducing car theft, home invasions, and the movement of guns and drugs across the border.
Canada will emerge from trade wars ‘stronger than ever’, throne speech declares
He says that by removing barriers that have held back the Canadian economy, “we will unleash a new era of growth that will ensure we don’t just survive ongoing trade wars, but emerge from them stronger than ever”.
He says this will enable Canada to become a superpower in both clean and conventional energy, that would make it more globally competitive while fighting climate change and increasing jobs.
Turning to laying out the policy priorities of Mark Carney’s new government, Charles touches on upcoming changes to homebuying credits, childcare costs and pharmacare.
On the economy, he says the government’s “overarching goal” and “core mission” is to building the strongest economy in the G7.
“Canada is ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its values, that believe in international co-operation, and the free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas,” Charles says.
“In this new, fast-evolving world, Canada is ready to lead.”
‘Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects,’ says Charles
The Canadian government is also working to strengthen its relationships with “reliable” trading partners around the world, he says, adding that it is “recognising that Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects”.
Canada and the US “have begun defining a new economic and security relationship,” he says, “rooted in mutual respect and rooted in common interests to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.”
‘Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power can ever take away,’ says Charles
“A confident Canada,” Charles says, “can recognize that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away.”
“By staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians,” he says.
It’s an opportunity for renewal and big thinking, Charles says, for Canada to transform its economy in the largest way since ww2.
Many Canadians feel anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them, he says.
The system of open global trade that has helped to deliver prosperity to Canada, he says, is changing.
Canada’s relationships with partners are also changing, he says.
‘Canada faces critical moment’ in protecting democracy, freedom and self-determination, says Charles
“Today, Canada faces another critical moment,” Charles says.
“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,” he says.
When his mother opened Canada’s parliament in 1957, ww2 was a “fresh and painful memory”, he says, and the cold war was intensifying, with freedom and democracy under threat.
Canada, he says, meanwhile was emerging as a force of peace in the world.
He then lists the “epoch-making events” that followed: the Vietnam War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the start of the ‘War on Terror’.
King Charles says Canada would remain ‘strong and free’ in speech from the throne
Charles, who is speaking during a symbolic visit to show support for Canada at a time it has faced US annexation threats, expresses his love for Canada and says the country would remain “strong and free” – a reference to the Canadian national anthem.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day / VJ Day, he says, in which many Canadians fought and died with the allies.
