Adedokun Waliyu 
King Charles III says Canada faces a “critical moment” as the system of global trade that made it prosper undergoes a shift.
Delivering the speech from the throne in Ottawa on Tuesday morning, the King says Canada faces “unprecedented challenges” as the world changes and as relationships with key allies come under pressure.
It comes as Canada copes with U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to upend global trade with tariffs and his repeated calls for Canada’s annexation.
King Charles also says the world is now “a more dangerous and uncertain place” than at any point since the Second World War.
He says that while Canadians feel anxious about the future, the moment also brings an “opportunity for renewal.”‘
The speech from the throne, which lays out the federal government’s policy agenda, officially opens the new Parliament following the April election.
The speech also committed Canada to join the ReArm Europe plan, a major defence procurement project to ramp up military arms production in Europe. The move could reduce Canada’s reliance on the U.S. for purchases of military equipment.
This is the first time that a sitting British monarch has delivered a throne speech in Canada in nearly 50 years.
King Charles and Queen Camilla started the second day of their Canadian visit this morning by travelling in Canada’s state landau past crowds of admirers in front of Parliament Hill.
The King wore a dark blue striped suit with the Order of Canada around his neck and his customary medal array. Next to him, the Queen was wearing a navy blue dress and hat.
They were joined by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and her husband Whit Fraser.
The landau was escorted down Wellington Street in Ottawa by mounted RCMP officers.
The King and Queen arrived shortly after 10 a.m. at the Senate building, where the King received full military honours and a 100-person honour guard from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment.
The ceremony included an inspection of the guard and band and a 21-gun salute.
King Charles made at least 18 official visits to Canada as the Prince of Wales. This is his first trip to Canada since his coronation.
The King is the first reigning British monarch to read the speech from the throne since his mother Queen Elizabeth II delivered the speech in 1977.
The royal couple arrived in Ottawa Monday afternoon. They spent time at a local farmers market and held private audiences with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Gov. Gen. Simon.
The King will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier later Tuesday.
The King and Queen will wrap up their royal visit later today.
