King gives nod to North in throne speech outlining Carney’s agenda

King Charles included a few references to the issues and people of Canada’s North in his speech from the throne Tuesday morning — including one that momentarily left a few people scratching their heads.

Accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla, Charles read the speech in the packed Senate chamber to open Parliament before a gathering of MPs, senators and other dignitaries.

He noted the presence of several “representatives” present from across the country, including from Arviat in Nunavut. The confusion stemmed from his wording — Charles spoke that portion in French and referred to “elected representatives,” while the English text referred to “representatives.”

Was he referring to Nunavut’s recently re-elected NDP MP Lori Idlout, or to the territory’s recently appointed Sen. Nancy Karetak-Lindell? An email sent later from Idlout’s office to Nunatsiaq News clarified the King was referring to Karetak-Lindell.

The mention was one of the few direct references to the North in a speech largely focused on economic transformation, housing, national defence and reconciliation.

A throne speech outlines the government’s legislative agenda. The last time a monarch delivered a throne speech was in 1977, when Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, addressed Parliament during her Silver Jubilee tour.

Carney’s invitation to Charles to deliver the speech comes at a time of strained Canada-U.S. relations and has been interpreted as a signal to U.S. President Donald Trump of Canadian sovereignty.

Rev. Aigah Attagutsiak, an Anglican priest at St. Margaret’s Church in Ottawa’s Vanier neighbourhood and a well-known figure at Inuit events in Ottawa, lit the traditional qulliq inside the Senate chamber at the start of proceedings.

One notable line in the speech promised the federal government will “invest to strengthen its presence in the North, which is an integral part of Canada, as this region faces new threats.”

That follows earlier Liberal government pledges to build operational support hubs for the Canadian Armed Forces in the North, including one in Iqaluit.

The speech also recommitted the Libreral government to reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples, including a significant financial pledge toward “nation-building projects.”

“The government will double the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion — enabling more Indigenous communities to become owners of major projects,” Charles said.

Though Nunavut was not named specifically in the housing section of the speech, the federal government pledged to double the rate of home-building and support the growth of modular and prefabricated housing.

Public safety was another focal point, announcing plans to hire 1,000 more RCMP officers.

While federal efforts to curb gun violence were mentioned, the government also acknowledged the need to protect culturally and regionally specific firearm rights.

The speech also included a message on fiscal restraint. Noting the government’s operating budget has been growing by about nine per cent annually, it pledged to reduce that to below two per cent. Transfers to provinces, territories or individuals will be maintained.

“[The Government] will take these steps while protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners and Indigenous Peoples’ longstanding hunting traditions,” Charles said.

He closed the speech with a reminder that “the True North is indeed strong and free,” and by describing Canada as a “force for good.”