G6 after all
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Welcome to Canada Playbook. In today's edition:
→ MARK CARNEY and G7 leaders enter the home stretch.
→ Carney's road to reset with NARENDRA MODI.
→ Liberals find an unlikely dance partner.
Trade war
G6 FOR A DAY — DONALD TRUMP is back in Washington.
The last time Trump visited Canada in 2018, he pulled up stakes early on the final day of a G7 summit and lashed out at then-Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU from Air Force One.
This time, he didn't make it to Day 2.
Trump abruptly announced Monday afternoon that he would depart Kananaskis, Alberta, after a working dinner and return to his own nation's capital. That news followed an ominous TruthSocial post that appeared to suggest more carnage in Iran.
And another: 'Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a 'cease fire' between Israel and Iran. Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that … Stay Tuned!'
→ This much consensus: G7 leaders did post a statement on the Israel-Iran conflict.
— So much for a trilat: Business Council of Canada CEO GOLDY HYDER hoped for at least a photo op today featuring Trump, Prime Minister MARK CARNEY and Mexican President CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM.
'I don't care if they do it at a picnic table for half an hour, but show that North America is trying to work together as one, and maybe the fresh air of Kananaskis will help them do that,' Hyder told Playbook.
No such luck.
— Today in bilats: Carney does cap his afternoon with a Sheinbaum check-in.
The Canadian host is also booked in with NATO Secretary General MARK RUTTE, Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UN Secretary General ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, Brazilian President LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA, Indian PM NARENDRA MODI and South Korean President LEE JAE MYUNG.
— Elsewhere on the program: The G7 leaders' working breakfast will center on a 'strong and sovereign Ukraine.' They'll then convene a closing session and welcome the invited non-G7 'outreach leaders' for a group photo and a working lunch on energy security.
→ These are the outreach leaders: Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, NATO, World Bank, United Nations.
— Last word: Carney will close the summit with a press conference scheduled for 4:05 p.m. We note his Modi, Mying and Sheinbaum meetings follow that media avail.
NEW COUNTDOWN — Trump and Carney set the clock on striking a new cross-border deal following a 70-minute bilateral meeting — which included 30 minutes of one-on-one time when staff cleared the room.
The two leaders 'agreed to pursue negotiations toward a deal within the coming 30 days' on a new economic and security relationship. The prime minister's office clarified the intention isn't progress in 30 days — but a deal by the time the clock runs out.
— Readout details: The Canadian summary of the bilateral conversation said Trump and Carney also gabbed about collabing on 'critical minerals, gun and drug smuggling, illegal drugs and border security' — as well as 'possible areas of cooperation' on defense.
Stay tuned, then, for more meetings starring Canada-U.S. Trade Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC, Amb. KIRSTEN HILLMAN and their American counterparts.
As Hillman told the talkshows last evening, 'we're just going to have to take it one step at a time.'
SIDELINES CHATTER — Here's what we picked up in and around Kananaskis.
— If you're not at the table: Monday's working dinner menu leaned heavily on Alberta agriculture: Mans Organics, Fairwinds Farm, Highwood Crossing Foods, Galimax Trading, Brant Lake Wagyu, and whisky-infused au jus.
The menu sampled other regions, too: East Coast lobster, Acadian sturgeon caviar, Nanaimo chocolate and Saskatoon berry pearls.
Each course was paired with wine from British Columbia's Okanagan Valley: sparkling from Kelowna, Chardonnay from Kelowna, Merlot from Oliver and Pinot Noir from Kelowna.
— Lapel flair: On Monday, Trump affixed a Canada-U.S. pin to his jacket, and the Canadians didn't give it to him. Prime Minister's Office spokesperson EMILY WILLIAMS confirmed that other Americans wearing similar pins — including Secretary of State MARCO RUBIO — also sourced them elsewhere.
A U.S. embassy spokesperson familiar with the Trump pin's origin story would only say POTUS came into possession of it when he arrived in Alberta.
— Tongues wagging: As G7 leaders took their seats for Monday's opening session, Italian PM GIORGIA MELONI reacted in some kind of way to whispers in her ear from French President EMMANUEL MACRON.
MEANWHILE IN BOSTON — Premiers from five of Canada's 10 provinces and five U.S. Northeastern governors gathered in the Massachusetts state house on Monday for a private and then public conversation.
POLITICO's JONATHAN MARTIN reports from the summit that lawmakers discussed what they can control and lamented what they cannot (DONALD TRUMP).
'It was a largely amiable, at times awkward and bizarre-if-fitting culmination of the Trump Decade,' Martin writes. 'Who else could hurl America into a fight with our friendly neighbor the north, eh?'
Read Martin's dispatch here.
CONVERSATION STARTER
MEETING MODI — On today's agenda at the G7: Canada's attempt to reset its relationship with the world's fifth-largest economy.
— Unwelcome guest: The prime minister's G7 invite to Indian Prime Minister NARENDRA MODI prompted a backlash from Canada's Sikh lawmakers and the wider diaspora as the RCMP continues to investigate allegations Indian government agents were linked to the 2023 killing of HARDEEP SINGH NIJJAR in a Vancouver suburb.
VINA NADJIBULLA of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada spoke with Playbook about the stakes for today's meeting. In February, she was in New Delhi to consult with Canadian and Indian stakeholders. The foundation later published a report on how to reset relations.
— Not a monolith: Nadjibulla acknowledged the frayed bilateral relationship on national security issues, but dismissed the notion Indo-Canadians universally oppose Modi's trip to Kananaskis.
→ The other guy: Carney has been a difference-maker, Nadjibulla added.
'The change in leadership and the departure of Prime Minister [JUSTIN] TRUDEAU did create a political opening for reset, but it wasn't going to be automatic, and required concerted effort and political leadership on both sides. It's been really encouraging to see Prime Minister Carney do exactly that,' Nadjibulla says.
→ Trade and terrorism: 'We expelled diplomats, we paused trade negotiations, we called out India publicly,' she says. 'We now have a law-enforcement process that's moving ahead and a channel that has been established with India to work on this.'
Bloomberg has reported a bilateral deal is in the works, though its status is unclear.
→ Stage is set: Nadjibulla says the time has come for 'high-level discussions on trade and commerce,' which could begin today when Carney and Modi meet.
Where the leaders are
— Prime Minister MARK CARNEY chairs the G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
THE ROOMS THAT MATTER
— Industry Minister MÉLANIE JOLY is attending the 2025 International Paris-Le Bourget Air Show.
— At 9 a.m., the Senate committee on national finance will hear from Auditor General KAREN HOGAN on the main estimates — the Liberal government's spending plan for the fiscal year.
— At 10:30 a.m., Canada's Official Languages Commissioner RAYMOND THÉBERGE will present his 2024–2025 report to the media. The report will also be introduced in Parliament.
— At 3:30 p.m., NDP MP LEAH GAZAN and the Chiefs of Ontario will hold a press conference in the West Block foyer to raise concerns over Bill C-5.
Want more POLITICO? Download our mobile app to save stories, get notifications on U.S.-Canada relations, and more. In iOS or Android .
ON THE HILL
CROSS-AISLE COMPANION — MARK CARNEY appeared to be up against it in his bid to get a 'nation-building bill' passed by Canada Day. But he found his dance partner in PIERRE POILIEVRE's Conservatives.
— Summer fling: The Hill had lately been preoccupied with the notion that MPs would be forced into a rare summer sitting.
Just in time for the barbecue circuit, Senate Leader of the Opposition LEO HOUSAKOS put those rumblings to rest. 'Obviously the Conservative Opposition in the House supports this bill as the Opposition does in this chamber,' Housakos said in the Senate Monday.
The Conservatives were the only party to help fast-track the bill to committee study. As STEPHANIE LEVITZ noted in the Globe, the vote 'highlighted the political realignment in the House of Commons.'
— New dance partner: Green Party Leader ELIZABETH MAY took shots at the emerging 'coalition.' In the last Parliament, Liberals commonly teamed up with the NDP, Bloc Québécois and Greens — but rarely the Conservatives.
'Mr. Carney's new majority coalition is Liberal-Conservative, delivering Pierre Poilievre policies with a more friendly face,' May said Monday.
The Greens and New Democrats want MPs to sit over the summer and study the bill to prevent future court challenges. The Bloc Québécois also says C-5 merits thorough review.
May called the legislation a 'big beautiful bulldozer' — accusing the Liberals of rushing through legislation she claims ignores the government's legal duty to consult with First Nations.
— In related reading: 'Indigenous leaders tell Senate major projects bill moving too fast, call for consults.'
— Double-take: May said she hasn't seen a bill like this since the last Conservative government. 'This is worse' than Bill C-38 under former PM STEPHEN HARPER, which May says 'destroyed 70 environmental laws.'
Liberal MP NATE ERSKINE-SMITH also denounced the bill.
'This federal government is proposing to shut down democratic debate, curtail committee scrutiny and jam the bill through the legislature. It would all actually make Harper blush,' Erskine-Smith said in the House.
— In case you missed it: The Star's ALTHIA RAJ called the bill a naked power grab that 'runs roughshod over democratic norms.'
— Courting Conservatives: Internal Trade Minister CHRYSTIA FREELAND was in front of the Senate on Monday, where senators are studying the bill in advance of it clearing the House. Freeland linked C-5 to past Conservative policies.
— The sincerest form of flattery: Freeland thanked Conservative MP DAN ALBAS for his trailblazing 'free the beer' pitch in 2016. 'I want to give him credit for that,' she said of his proposal to more easily transport alcohol between provinces.
She thanked former Alberta Premier JASON KENNEY 'for talking about lifting barriers to internal trade before it became fashionable to do so.'
And she thanked Progressive Conservative premiers DOUG FORD and TIM HOUSTON for their support of the federal legislation.
Freeland described C-5 as a 'non-partisan' and 'nation-building' initiative: 'I'm delighted to see that we're able to work on it together.'
— What's next: Intergovernmental Affairs Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister REBECCA ALTY will take questions from senators this afternoon.
MORNING MUST-CLICKS
— 'Canada talks the talk on climate change, but as our lack of action on fighting wildfires demonstrates, we do not walk the walk,' the University of Windsor's ANDREW RICHTER writes for the National Post.
— From MARTIN PATRIQUIN in The Logic: MICHAEL SABIA 'is ready to kick Ottawa's ass.'
— Former Premier JASON KENNEY is on the latest episode of 'The Herle Burly.'
— DAVID BAXTER of The Canadian Press reports: Outgoing Conservative MP DAMIEN KUREK is pushing for the adoption of a national livestock brand as one of Canada's symbols.
— ELLA KOKOTSIS, now with the G7 Research Group at the University of Toronto, writes in Maclean's that one question across three decades has focused her participation in global confabs: 'Do these summits actually matter?'
PLAYBOOKERS
Birthdays: HBD to Bluesky Vice President RAPHAEL BRASS, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs Vice President HOWARD FREMETH, CommuniquéDirect Studios owner NICK MASCIANTONIO.
Also celebrating: Former Cabmin STEVEN FLETCHER, former Ontario Premier ERNIE EVES and Quebec MNA JEAN-FRANÇOIS ROBERGE.
Your Playbook co-host NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY also completes a trip around the sun.
Noted: The Globe's STEPHANIE LEVITZ scooped news that PIERRE POILIEVRE will face a leadership review in January.
'Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem,' a documentary on former Toronto Mayor ROB FORD, is out on Netflix.
Spotted: Former NDP Leader JAGMEET SINGH, clarifying he's Team DRAKE after the Canadian rapper called him a 'goof' for attending the KENDRICK LAMAR and SZA concert in Toronto. 'I went for SZA, not Kendrick,' Singh explained on his Instagram story.
Finance Minister FRANÇOIS-PHILIPPE CHAMPAGNE and incoming PMO chief of staff MARC-ANDRÉ BLANCHARD, dining on the patio at the Métropolitain.
Movers and shakers: Liberal MP KARINA GOULD was elected chair of the finance committee … Conservative MP MARILYN GLADU is chair of the status of women committee … Liberal MP PETER SCHIEFKE is chair of the transport committee … Liberal MP JUDY SGRO is chair of the international trade committee … Conservative MP JOHN WILLIAMSON is chair of the public accounts committee … Liberal MP BEN CARR is chair of the industry committee.
— GALEN RICHARDSON is now senior adviser of stakeholder relations for Canada-U.S. Trade Minister DOMINIC LEBLANC.
— Housing Minister GREGOR ROBERTSON was added via order-in-council to the Treasury Board as an alternate member.
— IAN CAMERON, a former comms staffer to then-natural resources ministers JONATHAN WILKINSON and SEAMUS O'REGAN, is returning to the Hill as director of strategy and senior adviser to Industry Minister MÉLANIE JOLY.
Farewell: CHANTALLE AUBERTIN, deputy director of communications for the office of the minister of justice, is leaving the Hill after eight years in politics.
Media mentions: RICHARD MADAN is leaving CBC News.
Got a document to share? A birthday coming up? Send it all our way.
PROZONE
Our latest policy newsletter for Pro subscribers by MIKE BLANCHFIELD: Trump pines for Putin in Canada's Rockies.
The latest headlines for our paid subscribers:
— Why the EU is about to cripple its next climate target.
— How Trump's assault on science is blinding America to climate change.
— Global reinsurer says extreme heat is No. 1 risk.
— Microsoft boosts cloud sovereignty credentials to assuage European fears.
— UK confident Trump will back AUKUS.
TRIVIA
Monday's answer: Canada's third prime minister, SIR JOHN ABBOTT.
Props to ELIZABETH BURN, ROBERT PLAMONDON, RAY DEL BIANCO, NANCI WAUGH, JOHN ECKER, PETER SZABO, GARY ALLEN, DARRYL DAMUDE, KEVIN BOSCH, JEFFREY VALOIS, JOHN PEPPER, MARCEL MARCOTTE, PETER STUDER, JOHN MATHESON, ROBERT MCDOUGALL, GERRY BYRNE, SHAUGHN MCARTHUR, LAURA JARVIS, MALCOLM MCKAY and JONATHAN MOSER.
Today's question: Aside from the G7 nations, how many countries did Canada invite to the G7 Leaders' Summit in Charlevoix in 2018?
Answers to canadaplaybook@politico.com .
Wednesday's Playbook will be written by NICK TAYLOR-VAISEY from the G7 in Kananaskis with an assist from MICKEY DJURIC on the Hill.
Canada Playbook would not happen without: Canada Editor Sue Allan, editor Willa Plank and POLITICO's Grace Maalouf.
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