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This week was an eventful one, but most importantly, we celebrate one year of Carney. Happy Carneyversary everyone!
On the first anniversary of his 2025 election victory, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the creation of a $25 billion sovereign wealth fund. The new Crown corporation aims to fund major infrastructure projects through partnerships with Indigenous peoples and organized labor. Carney stated the fund would avoid the historical displacement associated with projects like the Canadian Pacific Railway where indigenous people had their land taken from them. Specific financial details remain vague, with the Prime Minister stating that the upcoming economic update will clarify how the initial $25 billion investment will be sourced. A consultation period will take place over the coming months to finalize the fund's investment strategy.
In Quebec provincial politics, Minister Gilles Bélanger resigned from the CAQ after Premier Fréchette appointed Bernard Drainville as Minister of Energy and Finance. Bélanger had been one of Fréchette’s earliest supporters. Simultaneously, Fréchette announced a $400 million investment for preparatory infrastructure work in eastern Montreal, specifically targeting water, sewage, and power networks for the expansion of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. This pivot toward public reinvestment has led to a slight recovery for the CAQ in polls, though the Parti Québécois (PQ) remains positioned to win the next election. A poll indicated the PQ could win a supermajority if they dropped their referendum proposal, but leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon rejected the idea as dishonest.
A shooting occurred at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. A gunman is in custody, but the lack of footage from the media event has fueled online conspiracy theories claiming the event was staged. These rumors follow similar unverified claims regarding a previous shooting incident in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Other News
A Canadian woman was killed and 13 others injured in a shooting at the Teotihuacán pyramids in Mexico. Mexican officials report that a lone gunman opened fire at the tourist site, striking eight individuals, including another Canadian and citizens from the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil, and the Netherlands. Two minors, aged six and 13, were among the wounded. The woman’s identity has not been officially released.
The Prime Minister’s Office has vehemently rejected a report from The Globe and Mail claiming Ottawa is considering an oil pipeline from Alberta to Southern British Columbia. While the article cited anonymous sources, the government corrected the claim the following day. Alberta continues to favor a northern route for the pipeline.
The British Columbia NDP government has canceled planned amendments to UNDRIP laws for the spring session following significant public backlash. The controversy has negatively impacted the party's standing in recent polls.
In the West Bank, Israeli settlers murdered two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old, amid a surge in settler violence.
Instagram is testing premium, paid features, further transitioning the application toward a model where specific functionalities are locked behind a paywall.
Manitoba has introduced legislation to increase electricity rates for data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations to prevent industrial entities from being subsidized by the public. Quebec is set to implement a similar measure in June 2026. Additionally, Manitoba has introduced a ban on social media and AI for children. While intended to protect minors, the bill requires users to submit identification to technology companies, raising privacy concerns. This first-of-its-kind legislation in Canada has sparked intense debate across the political spectrum regarding government overreach and digital safety.
A British Columbia MLA faced widespread condemnation after using the Nazi slogan "blood and soil" in parliament. The MLA used the phrase while referencing the BC NDP’s policies regarding Indigenous peoples.