Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Canada Day itinerary was significantly disrupted after severe thunderstorms in Ottawa prevented him from travelling to Edmonton for a scheduled national unity speech.

Carney had delivered remarks earlier in the day in Ottawa, where he encouraged Canadians to remain united as the country marked its 159th year since Confederation.

Speaking near Parliament Hill, he emphasised that Canada was built on partnership and accommodation rather than assimilation, and highlighted the importance of solidarity in the face of global uncertainty and domestic political division.

However, shortly after the Ottawa ceremony, rapidly worsening weather conditions brought heavy rain, lightning, strong winds, and risks of hail, prompting widespread cancellations of flights at Ottawa’s airport.

More than a dozen departures were grounded, and Environment Canada issued severe thunderstorm warnings, leading to the cancellation of evening festivities, including fireworks.

Due to these conditions, the Prime Minister’s aircraft was unable to take off on schedule, forcing him to cancel his appearance in Edmonton, where he had been expected to deliver a rare Canada Day address in Alberta.

The cancellation came at a politically sensitive moment, as discussions around regional unity and separatist sentiment have been gaining attention in both Alberta and Quebec.Despite the disruption, Carney’s office confirmed that safety concerns and weather conditions made travel impossible.

Earlier celebrations in Ottawa continued briefly under intense heat before the storms arrived, underscoring the extreme weather conditions that affected Canada Day events across the capital.