Good evening, readers.

We start this newsletter with some good news for the Canadian economy.

Canada’s economy grew by 0.3 per cent in May, continuing the country’s growth for a second straight month and putting the economy on track for a solid second quarter, according to Statistics Canada.

The increase topped Statistics Canada’s own initial estimate for 0.1 per cent growth in the month.

The agency says 13 of 20 industrial sectors — including construction, manufacturing, finance and insurance and the public sector — contributed to the month’s gains.

The mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction sector rose one per cent in May, leading growth for a second straight month. Some maintenance work that usually happens in the month was completed early or deferred, which paved the way for more extraction.

Transportation and warehousing also increased, as pipelines pushed more natural gas out of the country and onto the market.

CBC News has this one.

Meanwhile, Canada’s music publishers are lobbying the federal government on potential changes to the country’s copyright law.

Kathleen Walsh of Compass Rose registered this past week to lobby on behalf of the Canadian Music Publishers Association, which is operating as Music Publishers Canada.

According to her mandatory disclosure with the lobbying commissioner’s office, the association wants to discuss amendments to the Copyright Act when it comes up for statutory review as “it relates to musical works as well as the federal government’s innovation agenda as it relates to how the culture sector can address digital changes, AI and global competitiveness concerning existing or new legislation.”

Read more in this week’s Lobby Wrap.

In Other Headlines

Internationally

About 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s tiny Ceuta territory in the past 24 hours, Ceuta’s president said Friday, a figure that is equivalent to 70% of the population of the city in North Africa. At least 57 migrants died on the journey.

But most of the people who made the crossing soon returned voluntarily, the Spanish government said, after the sudden arrival of so many migrants triggered chaos and a humanitarian crisis.

Some migrants swam several miles through the sea and faced down authorities who tried to turn them back with water cannons, tear gas and warning shots. Those who died included some who drowned or were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier near a border checkpoint.

Spain deployed its armed forces and additional police to restore order in Ceuta, which sits on the Strait of Gibraltar at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea and has been a Spanish possession since 1580. On the Moroccan side of the border, security forces clashed with migrants. The chaos also had ripple effects abroad, with Italy and France pledging to tighten their controls on people arriving from Spain.

AP reports.

Meanwhile, Hamas said it will begin disarming as part of a deal announced by U.S. President Donald Trump that also requires Israel to end its strikes and withdraw from Gaza.

Hamas also said that laying down its heavy weapons, which would come later in the process, was contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state, something Israel’s current government adamantly rejects.

Reflecting the hurdles of the potential disarmament, a series of Israeli airstrikes shook Gaza again on Friday, killing at least one Palestinian and wounding at least four, including a child, according to officials in hospitals near the attacks. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

AP has this one too.

In Other International Headlines

The Kicker

Just a reminder — we’re off on Monday for the long weekend. But we’ll come back with a bang. A special edition of iPolitics’ No Talking Points with Anita Anand will go live next week.

Take a look at our story from Wednesday for a preview of what’s to come.

Have a great night!