November 19, 2008

Today, Governor General Michaëlle Jean delivered the Speech From the Throne to open the first session of the 40th Parliament of Canada, laying out the government’s agenda for the months ahead.  This was the third Throne Speech from the current Conservative government since taking office in 2006.

“The government clearly heard the concerns of Canadians with respect to the global economic uncertainty, and I was very pleased to see how much emphasis was given to addressing these issues.”  Stanton commented following the speech.
The Speech from the Throne proposed a five-pronged approach to protecting economic security:

• Reform global finance by working with our allies and trading partners to re-examine and renew the rules that underpin the global financial system.  Domestically, this will involve working with provincial and territorial partners to create a national securities regulator.
• Ensure sound budgeting so that Canada does not return to ongoing, unsustainable structural deficits while putting all federal expenditures under the microscope of responsible spending.
• Secure jobs for families and communities by encouraging the skilled trades and apprenticeships, supporting workers facing transition, and providing further support to the automobile and aerospace industries.
• Expand investment and trade by modernizing investment, competition and copyright laws while working with the United States to address shared challenges and pursuing trade agreements in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
• Make government more effective by reducing red tape, fixing procurement, improving program and service delivery, and improving the management of federal agencies, boards, commissions and Crown corporations.

While the economy was certainly the primary focus of the Speech, the government also indicated that it was following through on a number of other important priorities, including:

• Securing our energy future by developing our rich energy resources and pushing new cleaner energy supplies, including further development of natural gas resources in Canada’s North.  The Government will also ensure it is ready to regulate new nuclear projects.
• Tackling climate change and preserving Canada’s environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020, ensuring that 90 percent of our electricity needs are met by non-emitting sources by the same deadline and banning bulk water exports.
• Helping all Canadians participate by further improving the Universal Child Care Benefit, including access to maternity and parental benefits under Employment Insurance, and acting to help Canadians who care for loved ones in disabilities.
• Keeping Canadians safe by strengthening the sentences for serious criminal offences, putting in place new rules for food and product safety, and introducing a new national security statement.
• Contributing to global security by ensuring that our foreign policy is based on Canadian values, rebuilding the Canadian Forces with the best possible equipment, and transforming Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan to focus more on reconstruction and development.
• Building stronger institutions including moving toward representation by population in the House of Commons for British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, introducing fixed terms for Senators, allowing for Senate nominees to be selected by voters, and enshrining the Government’s respect for provincial and territorial jurisdiction in a Charter of Open Federalism. 

“It is certainly an ambitious agenda that we’ve laid out, but these are serious issues that Canadians have told us they want addressed, whether it’s the economy, environment, democratic reform or food and product safety.”  noted Stanton