Your World Tonight - The King’s speech, Carney government’s priorities, wildfire evacuations, and more

Episode Date: May 27, 2025

King Charles wrapped up his visit to Canada today, after delivering the Throne Speech - the first one delivered by a sitting sovereign in almost 50 years. It laid out the new government’s plan for how to build a stronger, better Canada. The speech leaned heavily on Canada’s democracy and independence, and also covered campaign promises on making life more affordable.Also: Fast-spreading wildfires are threatening prairie communities – forcing thousands of people to flee. Evacuation orders are in place across parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. But the rural locations - are making fighting back all the more challenging.Plus: Gaza aid chaos, household debt, hockey trial and more.

Okay, so I'm Tom Power. I host the award-winning interview show Cue, and it's not just about art. It's also a podcast that delves into conversations with artists as to why we create at all. Like you'll hear boy genius member Lucy Dacus open up about why she's dead dissatisfied with the way we talk about love. You'll hear Cate Blanchett describe what it's like to forget the sound of your own voice. And you'll hear how Coleman Domingo actually honed his acting skills in the circus. Listen to Cue with me, Tom Power, wherever you get your podcasts. This is a strong and free. The message and the monarch. King Charles kept his first visit to Canada as sovereign with a show of support for this country's sovereignty. I'm Susan Bonner on Parliament Hill. Welcome to your world tonight. It's quieter here now

after an extraordinary day. In the buildings behind me, MPs settle down to work on an ambitious agenda. The throne speech laid out the government's plan to tackle the challenges facing Canada, all wrapped in the pageantry and ceremony of a royal visit. So it's grand symbolism, it's a big gesture, but practically can it change anything in the lives of Canadians? I think words can change attitudes, and I think what we heard were the right words to change those attitudes.

It was a good move. And I think it unites Canada even stronger. Look at the patriotism that's come out of all of this. We're also following news on Canadian consumer debt and forest fires in the West. But we begin in the nation's capital. There was flourishing rhetoric about strength and freedom and acknowledgement of tough times. King Charles delivered the government's speech from the throne this morning, bookending his remarks with messages of support to Canadians feeling increasingly under threat from both the economy and their American neighbour.

The historic visit was designed to assert Canada's place in the world. Kate McKenna was there. It is with a deep sense of pride and pleasure that my wife and I join you here today. It was the main event of a historic visit. King Charles delivered the first throne speech from a sitting monarch in decades. His remarks and royal visit crafted to send a message. All Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away. The King never mentioned Donald Trump by name, but he nodded to the subject on many Canadians' minds,

taunting tariffs and annexation threats from the US President. As the anthem reminds us, the true North is indeed strong and free. There was a 30-second ovation in there. Flavio Volpe is the president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association. He was in the Senate for the King's remarks and says that line brought down the house. And I think the symbolism of the moment, especially what we've been facing as Canadians for the last four or five months to the other guy south of us, was important to tie

Canada to traditions, to global alliances that are not just profound but also very symbolic. Everything is for Canadians first and foremost, speech from the throne for setting out a bold ambitious plan for Canada. In an interview with Power and Politics host David Cochrane, Prime Minister Mark Carney says he's begun negotiating a new security and economic relationship with the United States. The president, I won't look into his soul, but the president is recognizing, as others are, just how strong and free Canada is. But this evening Trump posted on social media about Canada having to pay for an air missile

defense system if it remains a separate but unequal nation, while offering, again, to make Canada the 51st state. The speech from the throne outlines the government's parliamentary priorities, including plans to lower income taxes, trade freely between provinces, and make it easier to build major energy projects, including, possibly, pipelines. What we're going to do is fast-track the approval,

truly fast-track the approval of those projects. More can be done, more should be done, and from our perspective, more will be done. The speech from the throne will need to pass through a minority parliament. Conservative leader Pierre Polyaev says he liked some of what he heard. We did see a lot of the right slogans

and political talking points, but no clear plans to get it done. Meanwhile the Bloc Québécois boycotted the speech criticizing the decision to invite the King. Still their leader, Yves-François Blanchet, didn't rule out voting to pass it in the House of Comments. We will try, I will try to find common grounds in order to work together. Today the King expressed his confidence in Canada but Carney will need to keep the confidence of the House. This speech from the throne will be voted on next month, one of the Prime Minister's first big tests. Kate McKenna, CBC News, Ottawa.

The Royals didn't spend all their time with politicians. Although the visit lasted just over 24 hours, the King and Queen made time for visits and greeting crowds. Olivia Stefanovic has more on how they spent their time in Ottawa. Well, I got here at 7.30 because I knew there would be a crowd. They stood shoulder to shoulder in the sun, thousands of Canadians of all ages and backgrounds, packing the streets of downtown Ottawa.

Some waiting hours like Sherbell Naumann to catch a glimpse of the royals. It shows that now in a time of turmoil the king is coming to show that Canada is strong, Canada is united, Canada is not like the U.S., we're different, we are Canadian. I think it sends a really powerful message to President Trump that Canada will never be for sale and will never be the 51st state. Michelle Johnston carried her 11-month-old daughter Margot to wave at King Charles and Queen Camilla as they traveled by 28- horse carriage to the Senate. You want your kids to be a part of history, right? She may not remember this day, but we'll take lots of photos.

But not everyone who lined the sidewalks gave a warm welcome. Down with the king! Down with the king! Down with the king! Angie Swanson organized a small demonstration along the parade route with signs that read abolish the monarchy. We're protesting the King's presence because it is an affront to democratic rights. It's an affront to indigenous peoples in this country and it's an affront to Quebec

and to all the victims of British colonialism. Swanson says there are other ways the Prime Minister could reinforce the country's sovereignty than leaning on the royals. I mean it is really absurd that Canada has a monarchy. So Canada should be a republic. Canadians were not known to be patriotic but we sure are now. For others in the crowd, the visit sparked a sense of pride. Debbie Guyrie wore a Union Jack fascinator with a maple leaf shirt for the occasion.

We can have our own national identity and sovereignty and still be a part of the Commonwealth. After the throne speech, Prime Minister Mark Carney walked to the National War Memorial. Very powerful, very moving, very Canadian. Followed by their Majesties Who took time to greet well-wishers on the way. Like just amazing to see that they're here. Paige Keenan was almost lost for words after she shook hands with the King. We haven't had the monarch here to give a speech from the throne since 1977. So long before I was born and it's just really historic, a historic day.

Charles and Camilla concluded their trip by laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier and singing Oh Canada while the Royal Canadian Air Force conducted a fly-past as a salute to the King and Queen. Olivia Stefanovic, CBC News, Ottawa. Catherine Cullen has been watching the speech from the throne and the royal visit. The host of the House is with me now. Hi Catherine. Hi Susan. Okay the throne speech was a message for the US President Donald Trump.

It was crafted a little differently. There were certainly some signs in the wording that there was a message here specifically for the President. References, for example, to the Vietnam War, the war on terror, along with the suggestion that this is another critical moment moment followed up by a mention that Canada's government is going to protect this country's value. So a sign there for Donald Trump. It also did seem to build to that one key applause line at the end. We heard it before. The true North is indeed strong and free.

So clearly a rebuke to the suggestion that Canada is not a real country, that the border is an artificial line, we have no military, all accusations, even taunts that have come from Donald Trump. Notable too that the speech emphasized mutual respect between Canada and the United States, even specifically mentioning the President of the United States, working with the Prime Minister to define a new relationship based on mutual respect that would benefit both nations. But it is the people of this country who voted for Mark Carney. They were still the primary audience for this speech,

many references to unity and strength. The speech talks about Canada as a leader in the world, an example to the world. It's one of many ways in which this speech sets a very high bar for the government, which the Prime Minister now needs to try to reach. Yes, the agenda is indeed ambitious. The expectations are high. How much of a challenge is Mark Carney, the new Prime Minister, facing? He has goodwill right now, but there is certainly still the potential for friction. This is a minority government. He needs at least one other party to get on side with his government's plans. When it comes to his grand ambitions for uniting the Canadian economy, there is, for example, only so much the federal government can do when it comes to lifting inter-provincial

trade barriers. Much of that work lies with the provinces. When you talk about big energy projects, be they oil, gas, hydrogen, there are so many parties involved. Industry, possibly indigenous stakeholders, all, hydrogen. There are so many parties involved, industry, possibly indigenous stakeholders, all kinds of levels of jurisdiction that Mark Kearney doesn't control. And then there's that old quote, Susan,

about the biggest challenges of being a prime minister, events, dear boy, events, the unknown. Yes, Trump, his unpredictability, but also all the other unexpected challenges that come with governing, from international conflict to natural disaster. Kearney also has national unity on his agenda in the face of secessionist impulses from Alberta. He can summon a king, Susan, but how well can Mark Kearney juggle? We're about to find out. We are indeed. Thank you very much. Katherine Cullen is the host of the House here on Parliament Hill. Coming right up, as Parliament gets to work, another sign Canadians need help, growing consumer debt.

In Gaza, the agony of not enough aid takes another ugly turn. Later, we look at spreading forest fires on the prairies. As much as today's throne speech was about the country's sovereignty, another strong theme, the economy. Landing on the same day, a new report from the consumer credit agency Equifax. It says that more than 1.4 million Canadians missed a debt payment in the first three months of this year. Senior business correspondent Peter Armstrong has more for us. Peter, what is the main takeaway here? Look, I think Susan we all know just how sort of notoriously unhinged

Canadian debt levels have been, you know, for as long as I've been reporting, Canadian debt levels have been this constant level of concern. And the reason for that was that if and when Canada finds itself in a crisis, those debt levels could become a huge problem. So here we have one of the biggest consumer credit agencies in the country showing two things. One, that the economy is slowing and that debt problems

might be coming to a head. Okay, so walk us through the numbers. Well, you mentioned the big one off the top. 1.4 million Canadians missed a payment. The delinquency rate reached the highest levels we've seen since 2009. The global financial crisis. And any way you cut it, Susan,

with mortgage payments or stripped out, includes specific regions or not, the trend right across the country and across age groups is getting worse. It's a big number for sure. Put it into context. the trend right across the country and across age groups is getting worse. It's a big number for sure. Put it into context. Yeah, because the rate of increase is high, but the actual number of debt payments missed is still quite small. And let me give you just one example. Ontario's 90 plus day delinquency rate, that increased by a whopping 71 percent. But the total delinquency rate is still what, Peter?

0.24%? Exactly. And remember, these are delinquencies, not defaults that we're talking about. So if you're late on a payment, that counts. And the data show the delinquency rate is highest among young people. And they are, at once, the demographic most squeezed

and facing the lowest employment rate in the country, but also the demographic least experienced in managing debt and more prone to missed payments. Now, that's not to discount the impact this can have. This is like a series of red lights flashing and frankly, they're just the latest warning signs. In the speech from the throne, the King said on behalf of the government that the government would catalyze new investment, create better higher paying jobs. Is the question though about how quickly the government moves and can it move quickly enough? I think this government is in like a race against time. There are all these forces like the debt delinquencies, like the slowing economy and weakened job market that are all being made worse by tariffs and uncertainty.

There are ways to boost growth. We've talked about them for months now. They're debated through an entire election campaign. But now the economy needs to see some action. A Bloomberg survey of economists found most of them believe the Canadian economy will slip into a recession through the second and third quarters of this year. And Susan, if that forecast holds, it means we're already slipping into a recession today. Peter thank you. You bet. CBC's Peter Armstrong in Toronto. Hudson's Bay plans to complete liquidating its 80 plus stores before Sunday. New court records

show by that point more than 8300 workers will have been laid off. That's the highest number of job losses in Canada since Sears shut down in 2018. The Bay went into creditor protection in March. Its intellectual property, including the iconic striped brand, is expected to be sold to Canadian Tire for $30 million. At the sexual assault trial of five former Team Canada junior hockey players, court heard

from a retired police sergeant today, the one who opened and closed the initial investigation into the alleged assaults back in 2018. Karen Pauls reports from the trial in London, Ontario. I think it is a bit confusing to observers in relation to exactly what the Crown is hoping to get out of these witnesses." Brandon Trask teaches law at the University of Manitoba. He's writing a book on Crown policies and prosecutions and closely following the sexual assault trial of the five former

World Junior Hockey players. Cal Foote, Dylan Dubay, Alex Fermentin, Carter Hart and Michael McLeod have all pleaded not guilty. There's certainly a perception at least at this stage that some of these witnesses have been arguably more harmful to the Crown's case than helpful. Trask is watching to see why the Crown called retired London police sergeant Stephen Newton who investigated but then closed the original case, telling the complainant, known as EM, there was not enough evidence to move forward with charges. It may be because it allows the Crown to play for court interviews Newton did with the players which may be the only time we hear from them in this

trial. In a video from November 2018 Michael McLeod is in his lawyers Toronto office speaking to Newton about what happened the night of the alleged sexual assault. He had consensual sex with EM and says he was surprised when she began to offer sex acts to his teammates. This comes after the defense called into question the credibility of Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden, the previous crown witness. Defense lawyer Juliana Greenspan, who's representing Cal Foot, showed videos of Howden patting EM's buttocks and kissing her on the dance floor, a detail he

didn't share with investigators. Howden has been unable to remember key details the Crown was hoping to introduce as evidence. You are stuck with the evidence that you get on the stand. Maureen Salama is a lawyer from Toronto who's following this case. And if you have a witness that might not be the strongest witness but they're the only witness that can speak to certain things that you need then from a Crown attorney perspective their hands might be tied. Trask agrees.

Right now it's fair to say that this is not going the way that the Crown likely would have hoped. He says all the twists and turns including the dismissal of two juries, has benefited the defence. The defence council overall, they've got to be quite satisfied, I think, with where things are going. The Crown will question the detective on McCloud's video tomorrow and then he'll be cross-examined by the defence lawyers.

We may also see one of the other players' video interviews with police. Karen Pauls, CBC News, London, Ontario. The catering company linked to an E. coli outbreak at Calgary Daycares has been fined $10,000. The owners of Fueling Mines pleaded guilty in April to operating without a business license. The 2023 outbreak sickened more than 400 people, most of them children. A provincial investigation found the E. coli likely came from tainted meatloaf.

In Gaza today, thousands of people, hungry and desperate, stormed an area where food was being handed out. It led to chaos, gunfire, and new criticism of the Israeli-American organization that's taken charge of distributing aid. Sasha Petrasek reports. The lines were long and frustration high as Palestinians waited for the first week of aid delivery in almost three months until now all aid blocked by Israel.

We are suffering from a great famine says one man. Then the anger boiled over. Thousands pushed past barriers overwhelming U.S. backed private contractors hired to provide security. They withdrew as shots rang out. Mohamed Afana grabbed what he could. I ran in so I could feed my children, he says, no matter the danger. As for the shooting, video gathered for CBC by a freelance cameraman shows military helicopters firing overhead. US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce suggests it was Hamas.

Yes, Hamas still has weapons. Hamas is in a situation here where all of this could have stopped of course if they had released the hostages and put down their weapons but they refused to do so. The novice group delivering aid says 8,000 boxes of food were distributed from two hubs in southern Gaza, far from the main population centers. No other aid is being allowed in despite severe shortages of medical supplies and fuel. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by Israel and the US, was set up to bypass UN aid delivery, which Israel says was being hijacked by Hamas. The UN denies it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brushed off today's incident. There was some loss of control momentarily. Happily we brought it back under control. We're going to put many more of these. But the UN Secretary General calls the disorder heartbreaking. Spokesperson Jens Lerke says it was unnecessary since the UN and NGOs are better equipped to handle aid delivery. It is a distraction from what is actually needed, which is a reopening of all the crossings into Gaza.

Germany also criticized Israel's actions, calling its aid blo block unbearable. Inside Israel, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called it a war crime. The leading cabinet ministers that say we should starve Gaza. What is it if not a war crime? Israel says food delivery will continue with distribution points open again tomorrow. Sasha Petrosik, CBC News, Toronto. Police in Liverpool, England say everyone injured in Monday's car ramming incident

is expected to recover. More than 50 people were hurt when a vehicle plowed through a massive crowd celebrating a soccer championship for our children. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims is with the Merseyside Police. There was no intelligence to suggest an incident of this nature would take place. And as we've previously stated, the incident is not being treated as terrorism. Eleven people are still in hospital. The 53-year-old driver has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. There's no word yet on a possible motive.

This is Your World Tonight from CBC News. If you want to make sure you stay up to date and never miss one of our episodes, follow us on Spotify, Apple, wherever you get your podcasts. Just find the follow button and lock us in. Fast spreading wildfires are threatening several communities on the prairies tonight. They are forcing thousands of people to flee. Evacuation orders are in place across parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Many are in rural locations, making fighting back all the more challenging.

Julia Wong reports. You could see the fire through the back window. You couldn't see flames, just saw smoke. That side of smoke from a nearby wildfire was startling for Cathy Lawrence. Holy smokes, that's close. Lawrence is from the town of Swan Hills, Alberta, about 220 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. She and roughly 1,300 others were ordered to leave Monday night as a wildfire crept closer. I started going through things in my head what I wanted to take. Packed a suitcase with clothes and then I went around the

house and got pictures down of a family and stuff that I wanted to make sure. A similar scene is playing out in Lynn Lake, Manitoba, more than 1,000 kilometers north of Winnipeg. There's huge billowing clouds of smoke just outside of town. Mayor Brandon Dulowich says a wildfire is threatening the community. Around 900 people have been ordered to go and he says time is of the essence. Because once that fire crosses the highway, it will no longer be an option to evacuate via the highway. In neighboring Saskatchewan, the Peter

Ballantine Cree Nation has declared a state of emergency because of a wildfire. It has ordered about 3800 people to leave Pelican Narrows, a community 500 kilometers northeast of Saskatoon. Further south, near Candle Lake, two wildfires merged Monday night. Fire chief Jim Arnold. It is fully out of control. And frustrations are boiling over.

Leaders in the resort village say the fire could hit within days. They want to clear a 100 meter section of forest several kilometers long to protect the town. Arnold says it needs provincial approval and that hasn't happened yet. I need help building the fire break. I need the funds, I need the manpower, I need the dozers, I need that fire break built. Scenes of sudden wildfire evacuations and uncertainty are playing out across the prairies. Wildfire expert Mike Flanagan with Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, BC says so far this season is

close to typical. This is our new reality where we're going to see more fire and smoke. Some years will be cooler and weather but on average we're going to see active fire season as we continue to warm. Our fire seasons are getting longer. We expect more lightning with our fire seasons. And because of the warmer temperatures, we're seeing drier fuels. And he says it will take a lot of work to put the fires out. Some of these will burn right through the summer into the fall. And winter will put out most of them, but maybe not all of them.

Words that aren't really comforting to Kathy Lawrence in Alberta. She's waiting the fire out in an evacuation centre south of Swan Hills. It is what it is. It's not home but we're safe. Safe as Canada's wildfire season is just getting underway. Julia Wong, CBC News, Edmonton. And finally tonight we return to our top story and the King's visit to Canada. Before reading the throne speech, the government's plan for this session, Charles spoke a few words of his own.

And he made a point of talking about his admiration for what he called Canada's unique identity. Canada has embraced its British, French and indigenous roots and become a bold, ambitious, innovative country that is bilingual, truly multicultural and committed to reconciliation. The Crown has for so long been a symbol of unity for Canada. It also represents stability and continuity from the past to the present. As it should, it stands proudly as a symbol of Canada today in all her richness and dynamism. Thank you for joining us. This has been Your World Tonight from Parliament Hill for Tuesday, May 27th.

I'm Susan Bonner. Have a good evening.