5 things you need to know this morning: May 22, 2026

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

Five things you need to know

1. Smith announces referendum on referendum, Carney says Alberta should be 'at the centre' of Canada

Mark Carney has insisted that Alberta should be "at the centre" of Canada's future in a short speech delivered in the Library of Parliament this morning. The prime minister praised Alberta's contribution to Canada and mentioned an agreement with the province about "all aspects of energy" including a new oil pipeline and carbon capture facility. His remarks come after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on Thursday that she will put a referendum to Albertans about whether they want to hold a referendum on independence from Canada.

2. Liberal MPs sign letter saying they're 'deeply concerned' about Carney's environmental policies

On the other side of the coin, Mark Carney is feeling pressure from within his own party as a consequence of his attempts to roll back some of Justin Trudeau's more controversial environmental policies. A total of 14 Liberal MPs signed a letter to Carney warning they were "deeply concerned" that "the government's credibility will be seriously compromised" by the changes. The letter insisted that "climate change remains the greatest threat of our time.”

14 Liberal MPs pen letter to Carney raising concerns over environmental backslide. Letter was sent to PM prior to latest pipeline agreement with Alberta https://t.co/VnVQk8va83

Find out more at https://t.co/1zbPY5GAhV pic.twitter.com/29ujBey27a

— National Newswatch (@natnewswatch) May 22, 2026

3. US demands clarity on Liberal defence spending plans, F-35 purchase

The Americans have demanded a clearer plan from the Liberals on how they intend to meet NATO's new military spending targets of 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence and another 1.5 per cent on defence infrastructure. An anonymous "senior official" from the US reportedly told CBC News: "A plan backed by resourced investments that will put Canada on pace to spend 3.5 percent on core defence by 2035 would be a good place to start." CBC also said it was told by US officials that the Liberals' failure to say whether they will proceed with the purchase of the full set of F-35 jets is "another major irritant" in Washington, DC. CBC's article includes a quote from Dave Perry at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, who said earlier this year: "We're now on a path to spending 3.5 per cent … but we don't have any detail, really, about where the path is between where we are now and where we have to get on core defence, or really what it’s going to take Canada in terms of its military investment."

Pentagon doubles down on Canada rebuke with demand for NATO spending road map, F-35 decision. Criticism follows U.S. decision to pause bilateral defence planning body. #cdnpoli #F35 #CanadaUSrelations #defence #NORAD https://t.co/jVQkdKSVhR

— Murray Brewster (@Murray_Brewster) May 21, 2026

4. Major streamers told by CRTC to contribute 15% of Canadian revenues to Canadian content

Major streamers including the likes of Netflix must contribute 15 per cent of their Canadian revenues to Canadian content, the CRTC has ruled. That figure is triple the five per cent obligation announced in 2024, which was challenged in court by Amazon and Apple. The move by the CRTC is part of its implementation of the highly controversial Online Streaming Act, which has infuriated US firms and government officials.

Canada’s broadcasting system is changing, and the rules need to reflect that.

The CRTC’s latest decisions give broadcasters more flexibility in how they support Canadian and Indigenous content.

Learn more: https://t.co/6E4juPNyzE pic.twitter.com/rDehLKOU0L

— CRTCeng (@CRTCeng) May 22, 2026

5. Majority of First Nations not complying with financial transparency law: study

The First Nations Financial Transparency Act – which is meant to protect against corruption and the misuse of funds in First Nations – is being ignored by the majority of First Nations and must be reformed, a think tank has said. The Fraser Institute said 59 per cent of nations are failing to comply with the law. It added: "Publication of audited financial statements must be universally required."

EDITORIAL: Feds ignore law on First Nations funding
Despite the federal government spending over $32 billion annually on Indigenous issues, most First Nations today are failing to comply with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, passed in 2013.https://t.co/PKtuWNkl9Z

— Lorrie Goldstein (@sunlorrie) May 22, 2026

Thumbnail: Danielle Smith/Mark Carney/X