Roundup: The King’s cancer diagnosis

Posted on by

There were some shockwaves as news was released that King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer that was found while he was undergoing his treatment for a benign enlarged prostate. The palace insists that it’s not prostate cancer, but have been extremely vague otherwise, and the King will withdraw from public-facing duties over the course of his treatment, though he will still keep up his state duties such as dealing with the Red Boxes daily, and signing things that need to be signed in them.

https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1754565735655887066

In terms of Canadian reaction, we saw messages from the Governor General and Justin Trudeau, along with a cursory if casual statement from Pierre Poilievre, but nothing from Jagmeet Singh or from Yves-François Blanchet, though that was to be expected. Still, poor form from Singh on this silence for the sovereign of the country he insists he wants to lead.

Meanwhile, Patricia Treble has some added context to this announcement both in terms of the history of the royal family disclosing medical information, and what it is likely to mean for things like the planned upcoming royal tour of Canada, which was supposed to take place in May, but is now likely to be postponed again. Here is some added detail about the Counsellors of State which could act in his stead if he becomes incapacitated due to his illness.

Ukraine Dispatch:

Some of the soldiers fighting near Bakhmut fear that they will be there until the war is over, as mobilization legislation continues to be debated including provisions that would allow those who have been fighting over three years to de-mobilise. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he is considering a high-level military shake-up, which has some soldiers concerned. Journalists in Ukraine say that the country’s domestic security service has put them under illegal surveillance; president Zelenskyy has ordered an investigation.

Good reads:

  • Expect hay to be made as former Waffen-SS member Yaroslav Hunka was invited to the Zelenskyy rally in Toronto, at the behest of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
  • Jonathan Wilkinson admits the Greener Homes program is closing early due to extreme popularity, but says the next phase of it will be more accessible.
  • The government has ended the contract for an evacuation ship to get Canadians out of Lebanon if the situation escalates in the region.
  • Here is a recap of the first week of testimony at the foreign interference public inquiry, which mostly focused on what should be kept secret.
  • The sexual assault trial of the former head of military personnel got underway.
  • Much pearl-clutching after Parliament needed to pay out contracts to hotels when they booked rooms for a conference that largely didn’t get used.
  • Air Canada’s CEO was taken to task at transport committee for high-profile failures by the airline to properly accommodate people with disabilities.
  • The industry committee heard from AI experts insisting on the need to regulate the sector before it impacts democracy.
  • Pierre Poilievre proposed a “common sense” solution to auto theft which mostly involves locking people up and infringing on their Charter rights.
  • Charlie Angus has tabled a bill that purports to stop the oil and gas industry’s “false advertising” (even though the new competition law already tackles greenwashing).
  • Danielle Smith was in Ottawa to open her new “mission” for provincial lobbying purposes, and continued to defend her policies on trans youth.
  • Smith and two industry groups have filed their formal response to the proposed emissions cap and are claiming it to be unconstitutional and ineffective.
  • Susan Delacourt notes that the federal Conservatives are trying to fight the election on economic terms, while the Liberals are trying to wedge on values.

Odds and Ends:

Want more Routine Proceedings? Become a patron and get exclusive new content.