Canada ‘indeed strong and free’ King Charles III says in historic speech from the throne

King Charles says Canada faces a pivotal moment as global trade and key partnerships evolve with economic change ahead.

King Charles III delivered the speech from the throne on Tuesday, kicking off the 45th Parliament with a message centred on national unity and prosperity, and affirming Canada’s sovereignty, punctuated by the conclusion that “as the anthem reminds us: The True North is indeed strong and free.”

“The Crown has for so long been a symbol of unity for Canada,” he said. “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.”

King Charles‘ historic delivery of the speech comes amid tense relations with the United States and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts during the election to position himself as the best person to take on U.S. President Donald Trump and his sovereignty threats.

It is the third time a reigning monarch has delivered the speech, the first being by Queen Elizabeth II, in 1957 and 1977.

“Today, Canada faces another critical moment,” King Charles said, after detailing the geopolitical situation at the time of his mother’s first delivery of the speech from the throne, in 1957. “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.”

“The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing,” he added. “Canada’s relationships with partners are also changing.”

The speech from the throne, written by the prime minister and his team, is typically delivered by the governor general, and lays out the government’s priorities for the new Parliament. It is one of the first steps in a new parliamentary session, after the swearing-in of MPs and the election of a new Speaker of the House, which took place Monday.

Speech reiterates campaign promises

Carney campaigned on a promise of economic growth and national unity, and much of the throne speech included near-verbatim election pledges.

In that vein, the address included seven themes: “Building new relationships with the United States and the world”; “building a more affordable Canada”; “building a stronger Canada”; building a safer and more secure Canada”; “building a united Canada”; and “building Canada strong by spending less and investing more.”

“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,” the King said, seemingly echoing Carney’s promises to buttress Canada against over-reliance on the United States amid an ongoing trade war.

The 25-minute speech also confirmed government commitments to create a new “major federal project office,” and to “boost Canada’s defence industry by joining ReArm Europe.”

The former will streamline approvals to reduce the amount of time to break ground on infrastructure projects.

The latter is a legal and financial package to support defence investments and procurement for European Union member states. Joining ReArm Europe would be in line with Carney’s promise to reduce Canadian reliance on the United States.

A pledge to invest in the Canadian Armed Forces was also included in the speech, along with a vow to “protect Canada’s sovereignty.” Those come amid ongoing threats from Trump to annex Canada, including previous comments he would use economic force to do so.

The government is also vowing to protect more of Canada’s nature — called “core to Canada’s identity” in the speech — by creating new national parks, urban parks, and marine protected areas, plus “other conservation initiatives.”

And, the government says it will cap the total number of temporary foreign workers and international students, to “attract the best talent in the world to build our economy, while sending a clear message to Canadians working abroad that there is no better time to come home.”

Earlier this month, Carney signed a symbolic order signalling his government will prioritize passing his promised middle-class tax cut.

Surrounded by his cabinet shortly after their swearing-in, Carney signed a note of instruction directing his ministers to prepare the legislation to be tabled first thing upon Parliament’s return. That pledge was reiterated in the speech from the throne, and Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne tabled a motion Tuesday to bring that tax cut forward.

Carney has also promised to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day, with King Charles confirming the government will introduce legislation to do so.

In the Senate chamber during the speech were Supreme Court of Canada judges. Also in attendance were several dignitaries, including former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Kim Campbell.

Seated next to Harper and just feet away from Carney was his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, whose presence at the throne speech marks his first notable public appearance since the Liberal leadership election in March.

Mila Mulroney, the wife of the late former prime minister Brian Mulroney, was also in attendance, as were former governors general Michaelle Jean and David Johnston.

Conservatives, NDP react to throne speech

Speaking to reporters outside the House of Commons on Tuesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre thanked King Charles for delivering the speech, while criticizing the speech for excluding certain issues.

Namely, he said, commitments to build pipelines and repeal a slate of laws from the previous Liberal government were absent from the speech.

Poilievre also cited Bill C-75, related to bail reform, and Bill C-69, which many Conservatives have dubbed the “no more pipelines act,” as examples of laws he wants to see repealed.

“Let’s replace the talking points with real plans to get it done,” Poilievre said. “That is what Conservatives pledged to do. That is what Canadians voted for us to fight for, and that is what we will deliver.”

After losing his seat in last month’s election, Poilievre remains Conservative leader but cannot serve as Official Opposition leader. In his stead, Andrew Scheer has taken on the role of Conservative leader in the House of Commons.

Interim NDP Leader Don Davies said the speech included “broad platitudes” and “nothing really new.”

“I will say there are some positive indications in that throne speech that New Democrats can support,” Davis said on Parliament Hill Tuesday, pointing to promises to build a “strong independent Canadian economy,” eliminate interprovincial trade barriers, and invest in housing.

On the negative side, he said, “this is not a worker-centred throne speech.”

Davies has replaced former leader Jagmeet Singh at the helm of the New Democrats, after the latter lost his seat in the election. The NDP has also lost official party status.

“From an economic point of view, this is a very Conservative throne speech, and I think it’s going to be a very Conservative government,” Davies said. “And that’s why New Democrats are going to be, I think, such an important voice as Parliament to be pushing for progressive policies.”

Meanwhile, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet pointed to Trump as the instigating factor in the election.

“We arrive at the throne speech, which is the only serious piece we will have, because there will not be a budget or economic statement this spring,” Blanchet said in French on Parliament Hill Tuesday, adding it was “a little astonishing” that the speech did not address Trump or the trade war directly, in his view.

The Bloc leader also criticized Carney for positioning himself as a type of “CEO” of the country, with the provinces viewed as “regional offices.”

“I’m not mad at him now, and I intend not to be. It is the way it works where he comes from, (but) this is not the way it works in this place, and this is not the way it works in this federation,” Blanchet said.

With files from CTV News national correspondent Rachel Aiello