Trudeau says King Charles is 'deeply aligned' with Canadian priorities
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said is deeply aligned with the fundamental priorities of Canadians on reconciliation and the environment.
Trudeau made the comments while speaking with reporters in London, a day after he attended the King's coronation at Westminster Abbey.
Trudeau said he has known Charles for decades as an environmentalist and someone committed to preserving nature.
He said the King has also shown that he understands the problems created by Britain's colonial history in Canada.
"The work that he has done in reaching out to Indigenous leaders of the past number of years, including again this week, I think shows that he is deeply aligned with some of the really fundamental priorities of Canadians," Trudeau said.
Charles's coronation on Saturday drew royal fans from all over the world to London, including thousands who camped overnight along a two kilometre route travelled by the procession.
Fans waved flags, donned capes, fascinators and crowns, and broke into cheers any time they caught a glimpse of a member of the Royal Family passing by in a motorcade.
Canadian flags were on prominent display in the days leading up to the event, as monarchists from across the country joined the festive atmosphere outside Buckingham Palace.
Many of the Canadians in the crowd praised Charles' life of public service, his many visits to Canada and his decades-long commitment to fighting climate change
But polls suggest a vast majority of Canadians feel indifferent to Charles and little to no attachment to the Royal Family -- a sentiment that has grown since the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September. A significant percentage also believe it's time for Canada to reconsider ties to the monarchy.
Trudeau noted that Canadians had an extraordinary affection for Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
He said that leaves a challenge for anyone who steps into the role as Canada's head of state.
"Obviously, we will have many, many years in which Canadians will get to know his approach and his deep commitment to service, which includes leadership on environment and reconciliation issues," Trudeau said.
"I am looking forward to, alongside Canadians, getting to continue to work with him on big things that affect not just Canada but the planet."
John Craig, a professor of British and English history at Vancouver's Simon Fraser University, said most Canadians likely don't think about the monarchy much at all.
"Apart from the odd visit from one member of the working Royal Family or another, it seems totally remote from people's lives," he said in a phone interview from Lincolnshire, in the east of England.
However, he also said he doesn't sense a "real groundswell of interest" for changing Canada's constitutional arrangement, from either citizens or politicians.
Craig said there's no doubt that Charles is a "serious man," who worked over the years on important initiatives such as reconciliation, climate change and supporting disadvantaged youth. Despite being in his 70s, the monarch will likely redouble his efforts now that he's been crowned, Craig said.
Whether that will endear him to Canadians remains to be seen, Craig said, as he echoed one of Trudeau's comments about the late queen.
"When you're taking over the reins for somebody who's been monarch for 70 plus years, it's a very tough act to follow."
The coronation of Canada's new head of state was marked with a ceremony in Ottawa on Saturday, as well as events and viewing parties across the country.
The United Kingdom has a whole weekend of events, including a concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday and a number of picnics, volunteering initiatives and smaller community events.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 7, 2023.
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government鈥檚 three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party鈥檚 popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn鈥檛 be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mother of 6 dies in deportation centre after Canadian government refuses to repatriate her from Syria
A Quebec mother of six, once detained in northeast Syria, has died while waiting for repatriation. The Canadian woman was known only by her initials F.J.
The federal government allowed 30-year mortgage amortizations for first-time homebuyers purchasing new builds in August, and the new rules are set to expand in December to everyone looking to buy a newly-constructed home.
Former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model says Trump groped her to show off for Jeffrey Epstein
A former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model鈥痠s alleging鈥痶hat former President Donald Trump groped her in the 1990s, in what she believes was an attempt to show off for Jeffrey鈥疎pstein.
Canadian consensus on immigration under threat, but not gone: minister
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Canada's long-held consensus on immigration is under threat, but has not disappeared.
W5 Investigates Threats, slashed tires: How cities are trying to rein in clothing donation bin chaos
In the final part of a four-part investigation into the seedy underbelly of the lucrative clothing donation bin industry, CTV W5's Jon Woodward and Joseph Loiero look at how some cities are trying to rein in the chaos.
U.S. authorities earlier this year knew the whereabouts of a former Canadian Olympian who is now on the run for allegedly running a transnational drug trafficking ring and orchestrating murders in Ontario, according to Ontario court documents.
Majority of Canadians would vote for Kamala Harris in U.S. election: poll
If Canadians could vote in the U.S. election, a majority would choose to send Kamala Harris to the White House.
New regulations allow Canada Post to ship restricted firearms returned in gun buyback
The federal government is giving Canada Post the ability to store and transport restricted firearms in new regulations that bring the retail gun buyback program one step closer to beginning.
Stunning fossil trapped in amber reveals previously unknown species that lived during the time of dinosaurs
Diverse firefly species lit up the night during the late Mesozoic period, scientists have confirmed.
Local Spotlight
A new resident at a Manitoba animal rescue has waddled her way into people's hearts.
Hundreds of people ran to the music of German composer and pianist Beethoven Wednesday night in a unique race in Halifax.
He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.
A meteor lit up our region's sky last night 鈥 with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.
Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.
A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.
A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.
A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.
Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.