Last Week Today Episode 199 Show Notes for Tuesday, May 27th, 2025
Bloc Québécois Opts Out of Throne Speech, Israel Warns Tourists Against Canadian Travel, Pipelines, CUPW Strikes, the "Golden Dome," BC Parks Problem and Lot's of People Work in Alberta Healthcare.
Bloc Québécois Opts Out of Throne Speech
We mentioned this in the May 25th, 2025 Roasting the Press segment on “Sunset Boulevard & “Symbolism” Revisited as King Charles Prepares for his Canadian Closeup.”
We asked our audience to:
Try not to get too wrapped up over our government’s belief that there’s no better way to assert national sovereignty, independence and democracy than having the ceremonial head of someone else’s country open the latest session of your national parliament in Canada’s Senate, the “upper” house of parliament, where everyone is appointed.
Charles won’t be speaking in the House of Commons, officially the “lower” house of parliament. where everyone is elected. Members of the lower house will be invited to view the speech from the sidelines.
Well, it looks like the Bloc Québécois agrees with us.
As outlined in the May 27th, 2025 Hill Times post, “Bloc Québécois slam Carney for inviting ‘foreign’ King to open Parliament, opt out of attending Throne Speech” the Bloc Québécois, led by Yves-François Blanchet, announced that its MPs will not attend the Speech from the Throne on May 27, 2025, in protest of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to invite King Charles III to deliver it.
The party, which won 22 seats in the April 2025 federal election, will instead read the speech from their offices (maybe watching it live on YouTube or CPAC), citing the invitation of a “foreign monarch” as “disrespectful to a lot of Quebecers” and incompatible with Quebec’s “democratic and secular values.”
As outlined in the September 18th, 2023 Cult Mtl post, “Quebec is the most anti-monarchy province in Canada,” a 2023 Léger survey found 78% of Quebecers support reconsidering Canada’s ties to the monarchy, the highest in the country.
But Canadian Prime Minister Carney still defended the invitation, calling King Charles Canada’s “ultimate head of state” and framing the visit as a symbol of national sovereignty.
The Quebec provincial Parti Québécois also criticized the move, reflecting Quebec’s broader anti-Federal sentiment.
The Bloc’s boycott highlights tensions in Canada’s minority government, where the party holds significant influence alongside the self destructing NDP. The Bloc’s absence from the Throne Speech signals potential challenges for Carney’s Liberal agenda, especially given the Bloc’s history of providing conditional support for throne speeches based on Quebec’s interests.
The move also underscores Quebec’s distinct identity and ongoing debates about the monarchy’s relevance, particularly in a province where 78% favor rethinking ties to the Crown.
The current situation is certainly going to amuse US president Donald Trump, who as outlined in the May 22nd, 2025 CTV News post, “Donald Trump will visit Canada for G7, White House confirms,” will be attending the G7 conference in Alberta from June 15th to June 17th, to give everyone their marching orders.
The May 27th, 2025 CNBC-TV18 on YouTube post, “Donald Trump Continues To Woo Canada Into Joining US As The 51st State! | N18G | CNBC TV18,” seems to provide the current American perspective on Canada’s Throne Speech.
The Throne Speech
Now that the symbolism and stupidity leading up to the latest throne speech is out of the way, we’re left with what was said, and what those statements likely mean.
Here’s a low information overview of the speech, courtesy of the May 27th, 2025 CP24 on YouTube post, “King Charles III outlines Liberal government's priorities during throne speech.”
For the full speech, check out the May 27th, 2025 Global News on YouTube post, “"The True North is indeed strong and free": King Charles delivers Canada throne speech | FULL.”
For the opposition Conservative Party reaction to the speech. check out the May 27th, 2025 Toronto Star on YouTube post, “Opposition party leaders react to throne speech.”
Also in the News this Week
Israel Warns Tourists Against Canadian Travel
Israel has issued a travel warning to discourage Israeli citizens from travelling in Canada. As noted in the May 25th, 2025 Global News post, “Israel raises alert for travellers to Canada, warning of ‘increased threat’,” the warning notes a rise in attacks and threats against Jewish institutions in Canada over the past 18 months since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7th, 2023, and Israel's military began bombarding the shit out of Gaza in response.
The details are telling:
On May 25, 2025, Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) raised its travel advisory for Canada from Level 1 (“no warning”) to Level 2 (“potential threat”), citing an “increased threat from terrorist elements” targeting Israelis and Jews in Canada.
The advisory was prompted by a surge in anti-Semitic incidents over the past 18 months, including shootings, Molotov cocktail attacks, and threats against Jewish institutions.
The April 7th, 2025 B’nai Brith Canada post, “B’NAI BRITH CANADA REPORT: Antisemitism Reaches Record Levels,” reported 6,219 anti-Semitic incidents in 2024, a 7.4% increase from 2023 and a 124% increase from 2022, including fire bombings of synagogues and attacks on Jewish-owned businesses.
The Israeli NSC advisory highlighted planned anti-Israel protests in Toronto and Waterloo on May 25th, coinciding with the United Jewish Appeal’s Walk with Israel event, noting that online rhetoric had become “increasingly radicalized” with some calls interpreted as incitement to violence.
Israelis in Canada were advised to avoid displaying Jewish or Israeli symbols, exercise heightened caution, and follow local security guidance. The warning came the same day as a Toronto man’s arrest for hate-motivated death threats against the Israeli community.
But the travel warning also escalates diplomatic friction, and can be considered an Israeli response to Canada’s threat of sanctions against Israel over its Gaza offensive and the incident involving shots fired near Canadian diplomats.
It positions Canada as a perceived security risk for Israelis, a rare move for a Western ally, and reflects deteriorating bilateral relations under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s leadership.
For more on this story, check out the May 21st, 2025 CTV News on YouTube post, “PM Carney on joint statement against Israel's military offensive in Gaza.”
Short Takes
The May 25th, 2025 Western Standard editorial, “Morgan: Don’t Count on New Pipelines in Canada,” notes that “Carney’s lieutenant Steven Guilbeault has been telling Canadians we don’t need more pipelines. I don’t recall Carney correcting him.'
It’s a reminder that the current Carney liberals are merely a retread of the previous Trudeau Liberals with many of the same faces and policies. And the Trudeau Liberals didn’t want pipelines either.
Canada has the third-largest oil reserves in the world, but to get the oil to international markets, the country needs pipelines. For more on the situation, check out the April29th, 2025 BNN on YouTube post, “Impact of Liberal win on Canada's energy sector.”
Canada Post didn’t really want to go on strike, But it’s been forced into a corner because of the May 16th release of the “Recommendations and findings of the Industrial Inquiry Commission,” a government commission investigating the current labor situation at the crown corporation.
The commission concluded that Canada Post was “essentially bankrupt” and incapable of functioning in its current form. So Canada Post employees are trying their best to keep things exactly the same for as long as possible.
So, as noted in the May 26th, 2025 The Maple post, “Can CUPW Prevent The Erosion Of Full-Time Work At Canada Post?,” the current strike is mostly just a refusal to work overtime and Canada Post employees haven’t walked off the job.
It’s another example of growing government inefficiency and waste. For more on the situation, check out the May 26th, 2024 CP24 on YouTube post, “Canada Post labour dispute | Overtime ban remains in effect.”
Canada is engaging in high-level talks with the US to join the proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system, aimed at countering “advanced global threats.”
According to the May 20th, 2025 CTV News post, “Canada in discussion to join U.S. Golden Dome missile defense program,“ the talks emphasize Canada’s commitment to collective security amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Others, including the May 23rd, 2025 Politico post, “Bad news for Trump’s Golden Dome: He can’t build it without Canada,” the proposed system, an evolution of earlier Canada/US collaboration to defend North American airspace, cannot be built without Canadian participation.
The talks follow US President Donald Trump’s provocative annexation rhetoric, and requires Canada to balance security cooperation with national autonomy.
Canada’s role and funding remain unclear, raising concerns about sovereignty and costs. As outlined in the May 27th, 2025 Canadian Press post, “Canada faces 'massive challenge' as NATO eyes new 5% spending target: expert,” Canada faces mounting pressure to increase defense spending, whether or not the spending it sponsors align with European or US interests.
For more on this developing situation, check out the May 25th, 2025 CTV News on YouTube post, “Trump says Canada will have to pay $61B to join 'Golden Dome' unless they become 51st state.”
The January 27th, 2025 National Post editorial, “Closures of B.C. parks to non-Indigenous visitors a sign of things to come.” notes that “province has gone all in on denigrating non-Indigenous residents.”
The editorial notes that “while Indigenous rights are protected by the Constitution, this does not give Indigenous groups the right to act unilaterally without consideration of the public interest, especially in cases where Aboriginal title hasn’t been legally established.”
But unilaterally denying the public access to public land for increasingly large periods of time seems to be exactly what the BC government is doing.
The situation is wrapped around the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), a document which some call “a comprehensive international instrument outlining the rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide” but others consider to be a UN “landgrab” where the UN “administers” or takes control of the land, for our “protection.”
For more on this story, check out the May 27th, 2025 City News on YouTube post, “Local First Nations announce closures at Joffre Lakes Park.”
Lot’s of People Work in Alberta Healthcare.
And finally tonight, here’s the May 19th, 2025 Mongo Minds on Bitchute post, “In 1995, The Population Of Alberta Was 3.8 Million People. Alberta Health Services Had 5,000 Employees.”
Today, the 4.8 Million Albertan’s are serviced by 130,00 Alberta Health Services workers. That’s an increase of 26,000% to cover a population which has increased only 50% since 1995.
The video wonders if perhaps some of the massive increase in healthcare workers has more to do with corruption than with healthcare.
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More proof that " multiculturism " does not work and never will.. Still sleeping Canada..?.Still believe that in " voting " you will fix the corrupt governmental system..? Still believe that Canada is a " democracy.?. Still.believe that the government both provincial and federal, the judiciary and the rcmp are there to support you even though all of them swear allegiance ONLY to charles that maggot in england..?? If you still believe in the above ,you are obviously an unconscious incompetent ..