5 things you need to know this morning: June 16, 2025

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. 'Canada Strong Pass' comes into effect this week

Ottawa's Culture Minister Stephen Guilbeault has formally announced the "Canada Strong Pass," a temporary program giving Canadians free admission to some parks and historic sites across the country. The pass, which begins on Friday and terminates on Sept. 2, was created in an effort to promote Canadian culture amid a trade war with the US.

Launch of the Canada Strong Pass: #GC is making it easier to access the country’s cultural and natural treasures this summer. @CdnHeritage @VIA_Rail @ParksCanada #CanadaStrongPasshttps://t.co/BU52Gl7Er6

— GC Newsroom (@NewsroomGC) June 16, 2025

2. Carney and Trump to meet in Alberta

Mark Carney is scheduled to meet with Donald Trump in Alberta this morning as the Kananaskis G7 summit kicks off. It comes after Trump spent months attacking Canada's sovereignty and economy, with Carney responding by promising to lead Canada away from US influence.

Carney to meet Trump today at G7 summit in Alberta https://t.co/mUA7akPwBd pic.twitter.com/sc38RDW4bc

— Toronto Sun (@TheTorontoSun) June 16, 2025

3. Carney praises Canada-UK relationship, says he has learned from Starmer

In more diplomatic news, Mark Carney has heaped yet more praise on the United Kingdom, hailing Canada's relationship with the country as well as his own relationship with its leader, Keir Starmer. Carney said he has learned a lot from Starmer, while Starmer said the Canada-UK relationship is not merely historical, but crucial "in the here and now."

Canada and the United Kingdom think and work alike, Starmer says during Ottawa visit https://t.co/TIuaigyjfg

— CTV London (@CTVLondon) June 16, 2025

4. Student told to stay home after anti-Israel diatribe during grad speech

A student at an Ottawa high school has been told not to come to school today after making anti-Israel comments during a speech last week. Elizabeth Yao, a valedictorian, referred to "colonial and genocidal atrocities ... including the massacre of more than 17,000 Palestinian children in Gaza." The CBC, however, has branded those comments "pro-Palestinian" in its sympathetic coverage of her speech.

Valedictorian told to stay home after making pro-Palestinian remarks in grad speech#icanada #news #canada
https://t.co/Ug2Y98IBkJ

— iCanada (@iCanadax) June 16, 2025

5. Trump demands more deportations, highlights LA, NY and Chicago

Donald Trump has urged US officials to increase the speed at which they are deporting migrants who are in the country illegally, writing on his social media platform that he still wants "the single largest mass deportation programme in history." He named Chicago, New York and Los Angeles in his post, three cities whose governing Democrats have long refused to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.