Senate Passes Trump Tax, Immigration Bill Amid GOP Divisions; Canada Enacts Controversial Bill C-5 Fast-Tracking Projects

President Donald Trump's signature domestic legislation, the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' has cleared a critical procedural vote in the Senate with a 51-49 margin, overcoming Republican opposition from senators concerned about Medicaid funding and public lands provisions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Vice President JD Vance played key roles in securing the vote, with the bill aiming to make Trump's tax cuts permanent, fund immigration enforcement, and apply welfare work requirements. Senate Republicans are finalizing the bill ahead of a July Fourth deadline, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calling its passage the most important economic action of the year, though challenges remain, including a rejected Medicaid provision and tight margins on Republican support. Meanwhile, in Canada, the Liberal government's controversial Bill C-5, which fast-tracks major economic projects by bypassing environmental protections and other legislation, became law despite Indigenous leaders' warnings of protests and legal challenges over insufficient respect for Indigenous rights and title. Attempts by senators, including Mi'kmaq Senator Paul Prosper, to require free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous communities before project approval failed, sparking criticism about the rushed passage and erosion of moderate social discourse. These legislative developments highlight tensions in North American politics over economic development priorities, Indigenous rights, and partisan divides.