Come one, come all!
Prime Minister Mark Carney is playing host in Kananaskis, Alberta, to nearly 20 global leaders including President Trump.
Canada is rolling out the red carpet from Sunday to Tuesday for the annual Group of 7 industrialized nations summit. The group’s members are Canada, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan; the European Union has a permanent seat.
Mr. Carney, in keeping with tradition, has invited several leaders from nonmember nations to join the seven on Tuesday, making it all the more interesting. Leaders from India, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, South Korea, Ukraine and South Africa will be there, too, along with the secretary general of NATO.
[Read: Trump Leaves European Leaders Praying for a Low-Drama Summit]
[Read: Trump Is Pushing Allies Away and Closer to Each Other]
[Read: U.K., Canada and Others Impose Sanctions on Far-Right Israeli Ministers]
It’s a particularly important time for Mr. Carney and for Canada.
The last time Canada hosted the Group of 7 was in 2018, and things fell apart between Mr. Trump and Justin Trudeau, then the prime minister. Their relationship never recovered.
This time, avoiding drama will be a top priority for the leaders coming to Canada for the important event amid a serious escalation in the Middle East.
Mr. Trump will face, for the first time all in one place, some of America’s most important allies, whom he has attacked with tariffs in recent months, imperiling the global economy.
For the first part of this week’s newsletter, I spoke to officials from several Group of 7 nations to gauge what Canadians should be looking out for in the important event.
Though the event will take place in Kananaskis, delegates, leaders and journalists are staying all over the area, including Banff and Calgary. Some leaders overnighting in Calgary will commute into Kananaskis on helicopters, meaning the skies could be busier than usual. Security will be heavy, so residents should expect increased traffic and delays.
Topics on the official summit agenda include wildfires, like those still raging in neighboring Saskatchewan and other parts of Alberta; the smuggling of drugs and people; and the global economy.
No one will face a tougher balancing act in dealing with Mr. Trump than the host, Mr. Carney, whose country Mr. Trump both covets and routinely threatens.
Monday will be dominated by meetings that are only for the Group of 7. That evening, the Montreal singer Charlotte Cardin will perform at the reception, which Danielle Smith, the premier of Alberta, will attend. Leaders will be given a commemorative pen crafted out of wood salvaged from last year’s wildfires.
On Tuesday morning, the Group of 7 leaders will talk about the future of Ukraine with its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte. Later that day, nonmember leaders will join the seven for a discussion on energy security.
The juiciest parts of the summit could come during the flurry of bilateral discussions that will take place over the three days.
Mr. Carney is meeting every single leader for a tête-à-tête, starting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain for a Saturday dinner in Ottawa and a bilateral discussion on Sunday at the nation’s capital. They will head to Alberta in the afternoon.
Mr. Carney and Mr. Trump will meet, though officials warned that Canadians should not expect any major deals or announcements. And it’s possible that President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico could join them to discuss the future of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement between the three countries that Mr. Trump, with his tariffs, has practically ripped up.
Mr. Carney will also meet India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, at a nadir in their countries’ relationship. But Canada and India have been quietly working to repair relations, focusing on information exchange about crime and terrorism.
For Canada, the summit is an opportunity to show global leadership in key sectors such as artificial intelligence, rare earth minerals and energy security — all topics that Mr. Carney will put up for discussion. He wants the meeting to kick off a new period where both he, as prime minister, and the country have a more active role in global affairs, officials said.
There could be some disruptions, too: The R.C.M.P. has designated protest areas in Calgary and Banff, and some anti-Trump marches are expected.
The New York Times will have four staff correspondents in Alberta covering the event, so follow along for our coverage starting Sunday.
The remainder of this week’s newsletter was written by Ian Austen, Canada correspondent.
Fire Watch
Government officials forecast this week that Western Canada and parts of the country’s north would face a “challenging” wildfire situation over the summer.
Trans Canada
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In November, Léo Dufour, a 22-year-old university student and experienced hiker from the Montreal suburb of Vaudreuil-Dorion, set off on a day hike in the Adirondack Park in New York. On May 10, his remains were discovered off a trail. Ed Shanahan reports: “It is not yet clear how he died, leaving a mystery: How did such a hardy young man hike into the Adirondacks and never hike out?”
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Mr. Carney infused Canada’s military with billions of dollars this week, bringing the country to NATO’s minimum threshold for defense spending. Where the money will come from is still unclear, as is the armed forces’ ability to spend it within a year.
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From The Athletic: Pierre LeBrun writes that the Edmonton Oilers’ comeback win in Thursday’s Stanley Cup game against the Florida Panthers may become the stuff of hockey legend.
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From The Athletic: After eight weeks of testimony, evidence and submissions, the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial has ended. The judge hearing the case will issue a decision late next month.
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In Real Estate, Michael Kaminer tells the story of a lifelong traveler’s move to Montreal and her search for a home there for her and her 9-year-old daughter. Which condo would you choose?
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Mercury levels in Arctic wildlife could continue to rise significantly, despite countries’ efforts to curb their emissions.
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Roman De Angelis, a Canadian, will be driving Aston Martin’s “hypercar” in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s the British automaker’s first time back in the race’s top class since 2012.
Matina Stevis-Gridneff is the Canada bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of the country.
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Matina Stevis-Gridneff is the Canada bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of the country.
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