Weekly Recap: 🇨🇦 Edition

Olga Nesterova
Jun 28, 2025
9 min read

June 28th, 2025

📣 Announcement: New Schedule Starting July 1

Beginning July 1, we'll be moving to our new schedule (see image below). This update is designed to make our coverage more streamlined, consistent, and valuable for all of you.

Here’s what’s changing:

We are adding ONEST Now video recaps Mon-Fri.
We will host LIVE Q&A sessions every last Sun of the month beginning in July.
We will schedule off the record Insider Debriefs upon on-location coverage.

The Weekly Recap Canada Edition will become The Weekly Recap. It will include:

A summary of all newsletters and videos produced that week.
Highlights from live coverage.
Dedicated Canadian coverage will now appear throughout all our newsletters during the week instead of being confined to one edition.

We’re doing this to ensure our Canadian stories and perspectives are fully integrated and more timely, while still giving you a single convenient place each week to catch up on everything we've produced.

Thank you for your support and for being part of our community!

This week in Canadian History

June 22

1869 – Canada’s first governor general post-Confederation, Lord Lisgar (Sir John Young), arrived in Canada to assume office.
1950 – Canada committed troops to the Korean War after North Korea invaded South Korea (the government’s official decision was announced June 30, but preparations and diplomatic coordination began in the last week of June).

June 23

1990 – The Meech Lake Accord failed when the Manitoba and Newfoundland legislatures did not ratify it, ending an attempt to bring Québec into the constitutional fold with distinct-society recognition.
2014 – Canada signed a historic free trade agreement with the European Union (CETA), though ratification processes continued afterward.

June 24 – Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day

Celebrated annually in Québec as the Fête nationale du Québec, an official public holiday.
1968 – Violent protests broke out at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day parade in Montréal while Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau refused to take cover, solidifying his tough image during the 1968 election campaign.
Traditional date for cultural and nationalist gatherings in Québec since the 19th century.

June 25

1876 – The North-West Mounted Police (later RCMP) began their march west from Fort Dufferin, Manitoba to enforce Canadian law in the West and establish sovereignty.
1993 – Kim Campbell was sworn in as Canada’s first female prime minister.

June 26

1874 – The Ontario Boundary Extension Act extended Ontario’s boundaries north and west.
1945 – Canada signed the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, becoming one of the founding members of the UN.

June 27

1844 – Bytown (now Ottawa) was incorporated as a town.
1925 – Canada’s National Research Council (NRC) was established as a permanent federal agency to support scientific research and development.

June 28

1914 – Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo (not strictly Canadian, but this event led to Canada’s entry into World War I as part of the British Empire in August 1914).
1984 – John Turner was sworn in as Canada’s 17th Prime Minister, succeeding Pierre Trudeau.
2004 – Federal election: Paul Martin’s Liberals were reduced to a minority government.

This Week in the News

EU-CANADA Summit & Security Pact

On June 23, Canada and the EU announced a new security and defense pact, enhancing Canada’s role in Europe’s defense architecture.

Brussels, June 23, 2025 — Canada and the European Union have reaffirmed their longstanding partnership with a comprehensive joint declaration aimed at addressing today’s global challenges through a renewed, ambitious agenda. Signed in Brussels, the agreement lays out a roadmap for deeper collaboration in trade, defense, climate action, digital innovation, and global security.

A Stronger Strategic Alliance

Rooted in shared democratic values, the Canada-EU partnership now enters a new phase focused on defending the rules-based international order, promoting prosperity, and ensuring peace and stability. A new Security and Defence Partnership was officially announced to coordinate responses to modern threats, including cyberattacks, disinformation, and geopolitical instability.

Support for Ukraine and Global Peace

The two sides reaffirmed their unified stance against Russia’s war in Ukraine, pledging continued political, financial, and military support "for as long as it takes." They also called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and condemned the deportation of Ukrainian children. Additional sanctions and plans for a special tribunal on war crimes were also discussed.

Middle East and Indo-Pacific Commitments

The joint statement calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, denounces illegal settlements, and urges a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The leaders stressed the importance of stability in the Indo-Pacific and the Taiwan Strait and condemned North Korea’s weapons program and its military cooperation with Russia.

Climate and Clean Energy Cooperation

The EU-Canada Green Alliance will expand efforts on carbon pricing, biodiversity, and industrial decarbonization. Canada and the EU will jointly promote the Global Methane Pledge and prepare for high-impact announcements at COP30, especially on clean transportation and sustainable infrastructure.

Boosting Trade and Supply Chain Resilience

Building on CETA, bilateral trade has increased by 65% since its implementation. The agreement outlines plans to further remove trade barriers, diversify energy supplies, and enhance industrial cooperation—especially in critical minerals, semiconductors, and clean technologies. Canada’s strategic nickel project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act is a key highlight.

Digital Transformation and AI

Through the Canada-EU Digital Partnership, both parties will cooperate on cybersecurity, AI standards, data governance, and secure communications. Canada will host the first Digital Partnership Council later this year, and the two sides aim to link their high-performance computing and AI infrastructure.

Defense, Crisis Response, and Security

Canada will deepen participation in EU security missions and may collaborate on PESCO projects. A defense attaché will be posted to the EU. Both parties are pursuing increased interoperability and collaboration in crisis response, disaster relief, and humanitarian coordination, including on wildfire and flood response technologies.

Human Rights, Gender Equality, and Academic Exchange

The joint declaration emphasizes gender equality, youth participation in peacebuilding, and protections for LGBTI rights. It also expands educational cooperation through Erasmus+, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions, and supports freedom of academic research.

Bottom Line:

The EU and Canada are redefining transatlantic cooperation for the 21st century—with a firm eye on security, sustainability, and shared democratic principles. As global tensions rise, this partnership signals not just mutual support, but a united front in defense of peace, prosperity, and multilateral cooperation.

F‑35 Jet Purchase Reviewed

On June 25, PM Carney confirmed a review of Canada’s C$19 bn F‑35 fighter jet contract, saying a final decision would come by the end of summer 2025.

One Canadian Economy Act Passed

On June 26, Parliament passed the One Canadian Economy Act (Bill C‑5) to remove interprovincial trade barriers and fast-track major infrastructure projects.

Rising Alberta Separatism

Reports around June 27 indicated growing separatist sentiment in Alberta, with Premier Danielle Smith lowering thresholds for triggering an independence referendum—putting national unity under pressure.

Canada‑U.S. Trade Rupture

On June 27, U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly ended trade talks with Canada, citing the 3 % Digital Services Tax and threatening tariffs within a week.
- The Canadian dollar weakened (~0.6 %) amid the escalation.
- Canadian steel producers also warned the government’s tariff protections fall short amid rising U.S. steel/aluminum duties.

Trump Ends Trade Talks With Canada Over Digital Services Tax

U.S. President Donald Trump announced via a Truth Social post on Friday that the United States was ending all trade negotiations with Canada, in response to Canada’s Digital Services Tax.

The Canadian Digital Services Tax was originally introduced as legislation in 2021 but its enforcement was delayed while international negotiations at the OECD continued. Canada moved forward in 2024 to implement the tax, which applies retroactively to revenues from 2022. It imposes a 3% levy on large digital companies with global revenue over €750 million and Canadian revenue over $20 million, targeting major U.S. tech firms such as Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.

Trump called the tax a “direct and blatant attack” on the United States and threatened new tariffs on Canadian goods within a week.

Notably, the timing of the U.S. announcement is striking, since the Canadian tax itself is not new but is only now being actively enforced with retroactive collection, creating friction after a period of negotiation and delay.

Canada’s government said it would review its next steps following the U.S. decision.

Markets saw a brief dip after the announcement, but recovered later in the session. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq remained near record highs, supported by optimism around artificial intelligence growth and expectations of potential U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts.

NATO Defense Spending Commitment

On June 25, Carney announced Canada will boost defense spending to meet NATO’s 5 % GDP target by 2035, covering military operations and infrastructure.

The Latest World News

Schumer Vows to Force Full Reading of GOP Bill

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Saturday that Democrats will force Republicans’ 940-page tax and spending bill to be read in full aloud on the Senate floor, aiming to highlight its scale and complexity.

Elon Musk Slams Trump’s Tax Bill

Elon Musk on Saturday sharply criticized the latest version of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill released by the U.S. Senate, calling it “utterly insane and destructive.”

The billionaire’s remarks come just weeks after he and Trump appeared to end a public feud sparked by Musk’s earlier opposition to the bill.

Rep. Don Bacon Won’t Seek Reelection

Five-term U.S. Representative Don Bacon, one of the few Republican lawmakers willing to take positions independent of President Trump, will not seek reelection, according to media reports Saturday.

His retirement opens a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats in the closely divided House of Representatives.

GOP Readies Vote on Trump’s Tax and Spending Bill

U.S. Senate Republicans planned to vote Saturday on President Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending package after agreeing on revisions to address concerns about funding for rural hospitals and the deductibility of state taxes.

Supreme Court Narrows Nationwide Injunctions

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling limiting the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions that block government policies while legal challenges proceed.

While broadly seen as a victory for President Trump, the ruling may complicate enforcement of some of his most controversial policies.

EV Tax Credits Face Phaseout in Revised GOP Bill

Senate Republicans late Friday released a revised version of the tax and spending bill that would end the $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicle sales and leases as of September 30, as well as the $4,000 credit for used EV purchases.

Trump Denies Discussing $30 Billion Civilian Nuclear Aid for Iran

President Trump on Friday dismissed media reports claiming his administration had discussed possibly helping Iran access as much as $30 billion to develop a civilian nuclear energy program.

Senate Finance Democrat Presses Treasury on Russia Sanctions

The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee on Friday pressed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to commit to enforcing Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia and to clarify his comments about Russia potentially rejoining an international bank payments network.

Trump Pressures Fed Chair for Rate Cuts

President Trump on Friday said he would “love” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to resign and called for interest rates to be cut to 1%.

Trump also declared he would not appoint anyone as Fed chair unless they pledged to lower interest rates, laying out his clearest litmus test yet for future candidates.

Minnesota Mourns Slain Lawmaker and Spouse

Thousands of mourners, including former President Joe Biden, filed through the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda on Friday to pay respects to slain state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were shot and killed by an assassin earlier this month.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Criticizes Trump’s Tone

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Saturday urged President Trump to “put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone” toward Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei if he is serious about seeking a new nuclear deal.

Araqchi called on Trump to “stop hurting his millions of heartfelt followers” in a post on X.

Please find the detailed news summary in the News Briefing.

Canada Kind

A Courageous Rescue: Volunteers Save Injured Bald Eagle

On June 22, the volunteer pilots of Canadian Wings of Rescue sprang into action after an injured bald eagle was discovered near Thunder Bay, Ontario.

A tranquilizer expert and foster care provider cared for the eagle overnight.
At dawn, one of the volunteer pilots flew the bird to a wildlife rehabilitation centre in southern Ontario—navigating challenging weather with precision.
Local shelters and wildlife experts coordinated to ensure the eagle received urgent medical attention and care.

This mission—prompted by caring strangers and executed by selfless volunteers—showcases Canada’s strength in compassion, coordination, and community spirit.

Did You Know?

Did you know that Canada is home to most of the world’s pingos?

What’s a pingo?

A pingo is a rare Arctic landform—essentially a giant, ice-cored hill that grows out of the frozen ground!

It forms when pressurized groundwater freezes and pushes the earth upwards.
Pingos can be up to 70 meters tall (about 23 stories!) and 600 meters wide.

Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, is often called the Pingo Capital of the World.

It has over 1,350 pingos in the surrounding area.
Eight of them are protected in Pingo Canadian Landmark, the only natural landmark of its kind in Canada.

Why is it special?

Pingos are incredibly rare, found only in permafrost regions of the Arctic.
They’re important indicators of climate change as thawing permafrost can collapse them.
They’re central to Inuvialuit knowledge and culture, shaping the local landscape for millennia.

So if you thought Canada’s North was just flat tundra—think again! It’s full of these fascinating, frozen hills that you can actually hike and visit.

NOTE: Free admission and discounted overnight stays

Parks Canada is offering free admission and discounted overnight stays at participating locations, from June 20 to September 2, 2025 inclusive.

The Sunday Edition (NO politics) arrives tomorrow - stay tuned!

All who are subscribed to this newsletter will receive the Sunday Edition automatically.

Support Our Work

Onest