This week marked a pivotal moment for the newly elected federal government as Prime Minister Mark Carney was officially sworn in as Member of Parliament, convened his cabinet in Quebec, and began laying out an ambitious policy agenda just days ahead of the King’s Speech from the Throne.
Carney Sets the Tone for Parliament, Throne Speech, and G7 Agenda Unfold
On May 22, Prime Minister Mark Carney was officially sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Nepean, just days before the House of Commons reconvenes on May 26, as Parliament reopens with King Charles delivering the Speech from the Throne the following day—his first official address in Canada as monarch.
Earlier, Carney released a Mandate Letteraddressed to his ministers outlining the new federal government’s ambitious agenda to tackle Canada’s economic, security, and infrastructure challenges. Emphasizing the need for transformative governance and collaboration, his seven-priority plan includes strengthening U.S. ties, making housing more affordable, boosting national security, and deploying AI to enhance government productivity.
However, political experts argued that the document Carney released was not a traditional mandate letter but rather a vague summary of the Liberal platform sent to all ministers. While new cabinet roles like the minister of Artificial Intelligence were created, specific duties remain unclear, with personalized mandate letters possibly kept private.
Ahead of the throne speech, Carney gathered federal ministers in Chelsea, Quebec, for a closed-door planning retreat to finalize the government’s economic and legislative priorities. In a social media post, he reiterated his focus on affordability, economic growth, trade partnerships, and public safety, promising a full federal budget in the fall.
Meanwhile, the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors concluded their meeting in Banff, emphasizing unity in tackling global economic challenges and agreeing on measures to combat financial crime, enhance supply-chain resilience, and maintain strong support for Ukraine. They reaffirmed their commitment to addressing global imbalances, strengthening financial sector stability, and supporting vulnerable and developing countries through multilateral reforms.
Canada, as the 2025 G7 President, pledged significant contributions to these efforts and highlighted its leadership role in shaping the global economic agenda ahead of the Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis. The group also focused on advancing cooperation around AI productivity and financial stability to promote sustainable, inclusive growth worldwide.
U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, marking a key meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney following their recent Oval Office discussion. Despite Trump’s past provocative remarks about Canada, both leaders described their earlier meeting as productive and agreed to continue talks ahead of the summit.
Experts Warn U.S. Tariffs Could Disrupt Canadian Drug Access
Healthcare experts raised alarms in an article in Healthing.ca that U.S. tariffs may impact access to essential drugs, pharmaceutical development, and pharmacy operations in Canada. They discussed how U.S. tariffs have contributed to increased healthcare costs, affecting the affordability and accessibility of medications.
Though Carney’s administration has eased some retaliatory tariffs, concerns persist that U.S. drug tariffs will continue to hurt Canada’s healthcare system.
AI in Healthcare Could Free 18.5 Million Hours for Patient Care
In an opinion piece, Telus Health Vice President Ratcho Batchvarov and Clinia CEO Simon Bédard urged federal action to expand the use of artificial intelligence in Canadian healthcare. They argued that automation of administrative tasks could reclaim 18.5 million hours—time that could be redirected to patient care.
With AI policies garnering federal support, the article called for immediate action to equip healthcare providers with these technologies to meet current demands, rather than waiting, to reflect a vital step toward improving healthcare outcomes for both practitioners and patients.
Conservative MP Calls for End to Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Jamil Jivani, Conservative MP for Bowmanville–Oshawa North, launched a petition to end Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), arguing it contributes to youth unemployment, wage suppression, and strain on the healthcare system. He cited that over 160,000 work permits were issued through the TFWP, while more than 120,000 of Toronto’s youth from ages 15 to 24 remain unemployed.
Employment Minister Patty Hadju responded to Jamil’s statement in an article published in The Canadian Press. Hadju declared that since last year, the province has already reduced the scope of the TFWP and that the program “does not replace Canadian talent”.
Accessibility Plan Under Scrutiny Amid Disability Benefit Backlash
Accessibility Standards Canada announced its preparation for the next round of consultations for the 2026-2028 Accessibility Plan, inviting feedback from employees, board members, technical committee members, and grant recipients from June 2 to 23. However, tension surrounds the launch of the Canada Disability Benefit, which is criticized for not achieving its promise of lifting Canadians with disabilities out of poverty. The new benefit program is capped at $200 per month, with restricted eligibility tied to the Disability Tax Credit, which many argue excludes many in need.
Concerns were raised about the lack of dedicated representation within Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet for disability advocacy, following the exclusion of a minister specifically responsible for such issues. Previously, a ministry for people with disabilities existed to support this focus, but the absence of such a position has the disability community feeling anxious and underrepresented.
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