A roundup of current stories from The Canadian Press provides an overview of significant events occurring in Canada as of May 21, 2025.
G7 Finance Summit in Banff
Top economic officials from the G7 countries are participating in a full day of closed-door discussions in Banff, Alberta. This summit addresses crucial issues such as the global economy and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Scheduled to conclude on Thursday, this meeting serves as a precursor to the G7 leaders summit, which is set to take place in June in Kananaskis, Alberta.
The backdrop of this meeting follows the implementation of global tariffs by the United States in early April 2025, prompting many nations to reassess their trading relationships. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that he plans to use the opportunity to focus on addressing global economic imbalances and non-market practices. Meanwhile, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne expressed his eagerness to engage in open discussions with Bessent regarding cooperative measures.
Western Canadian Premiers Assemble in Yellowknife
On Wednesday, premiers from Western Canada are convening for a two-day conference in Yellowknife. Attendees include Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, British Columbia's David Eby, Saskatchewan's Scott Moe, Manitoba's Wab Kinew, Nunavut's P.J. Akeeagok, Yukon’s outgoing Premier Ranj Pillai, and Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson. This annual gathering comes two weeks before a meeting of all Canadian premiers with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saskatoon.
According to a statement from Premier Simpson's office, the conference aims to address various pressing issues, including Arctic sovereignty, energy security, international trade, and emergency preparedness, reflecting the unique challenges faced by the provinces and territories in the region.
Trust Issues Within Federal Public Service
The president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, Nathan Prier, has conveyed concerns regarding trust between public servants and management. He emphasized that the federal government must prioritize mending this crucial relationship. Prier described the current situation as a “delicate moment,” suggesting that newly appointed Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali has substantial work ahead of him.
Prier attributed the erosion of trust among public service employees to several controversial decisions made by the Trudeau government, including a poorly executed return-to-office strategy that did not involve employee consultation. He highlighted the longstanding issues of bad-faith consultations and a disregard for evidence-based decision-making that have led to widespread frustration among working staff. The prior government's mandate requiring public servants to increase their office presence further incited protests and grievances from various unions.
Testimony Continues in High-Profile Hockey Case
A former member of Canada’s World Junior Hockey team is expected to provide ongoing testimony today at the sexual assault trial involving five of his ex-teammates. Brett Howden, currently playing for the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights, commenced his testimony via videoconference on Tuesday. The accused—Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, and Callan Foote—have all pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault. Additionally, McLeod faces an extra charge related to being a party to the offense. These charges stem from an incident involving a woman in a hotel room in London, Ontario, occurring in the early hours of June 19, 2018.
Edmonton Oilers Prepare for Game Against Dallas Stars
In sports news, the Edmonton Oilers, representing Canada's interests in the 2025 NHL playoffs, are gearing up to face the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference final at the American Airlines Center tonight. The Oilers entered this round after eliminating the Golden Knights in a five-game series, with the decisive game ending in a 1-0 overtime victory. Conversely, the Stars advanced to this stage by defeating the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets, clinching their series with a 2-1 overtime win in Game 6.
The matchup holds significance, as the Oilers lost two of their initial three games to the Stars last year but rallied to win the best-of-seven series 4-2. This season, the Stars are led by playoff scoring leader Mikko Rantanen, who boasts nine goals and 19 points, while goaltender Jake Oettinger shares the lead for wins in the playoffs with eight.
