Justin Trudeau ushered in a new era of minority Liberal rule Thursday with a throne speech brimming with humility, goodwill and promises of collaboration with opposition parties whose support he needs to ensure his governmentB次元官网网址檚 survival.
The effort worked, at least insofar as guaranteeing the government will win a vote on the throne speech. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said his partyB次元官网网址檚 32 MPs will support it, despite serious reservations about its content.
The eight-page speech from the throne is mostly penned by the Prime MinisterB次元官网网址檚 Office, but read by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, who inserted a bit of flavour from her days as an astronaut.
B次元官网网址淎nd we share the same planet,B次元官网网址� she said in a passage emphasizing co-operation.
B次元官网网址淲e know that we are inextricably bound to the same space-time continuum and on board the same planetary space ship.B次元官网网址�
The speech overall offered few details of TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 agenda for his second mandate, beyond reiterating Liberal campaign promises: stronger action to fight climate change, lower taxes for middle-class Canadians, beefed-up gun control, steps towards national pharmacare and investments in infrastructure, public transit, affordable housing and health care.
But it also made pointed references to issues that are dear to the NDP and Bloc. The Liberals will need the support of at least one of those two parties to pass legislation and survive confidence votes.
Universal dental care, one of NDP Leader Jagmeet SinghB次元官网网址檚 priorities, was cited as an idea B次元官网网址渨orth exploringB次元官网网址� and one that Parliament was encouraged to look into.
In a nod to one of the BlocB次元官网网址檚 priorities, the government promised that dairy farmers impacted by recent trade agreements will be B次元官网网址渇ully and fairly compensatedB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� with many receiving their first cheques this month.
Moreover, the speech emphasized that the government B次元官网网址渋s open to new ideasB次元官网网址� from opposition parties.
The speech was more about tone than substance, attempting to demonstrate to Canadians that TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 Liberals B次元官网网址� reduced to 157 seats, 13 shy of a majority, on Oct. 21 B次元官网网址� have heard the message sent by voters after a particularly nasty, hyper-partisan campaign.
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B次元官网网址淧arliamentarians: Canadians are counting on you to fight climate change, strengthen the middle class, walk the road of reconciliation, keep Canadians safe and healthy, and position Canada for success in an uncertain world,B次元官网网址漃ayette said. B次元官网网址滱nd with goodwill, humility and a willingness to collaborate, you can do just that.B次元官网网址�
The speech also recognized indirectly that the Liberals were shut out in Alberta and Saskatchewan, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 oil and gas heartland where anger over Liberal environmental policies has fuelled talk of western separatism.
B次元官网网址淭he government has heard CanadiansB次元官网网址� concerns that the world is increasingly uncertain and that the economy is changing,B次元官网网址� Payette said. B次元官网网址淎nd in this context, regional needs and differences really matter. TodayB次元官网网址檚 regional economic concerns are both justified and important.B次元官网网址�
The speech noted that B次元官网网址渁 clear majority of Canadians voted for ambitious climate action now,B次元官网网址� and reiterated the LiberalsB次元官网网址� pledge to maintain the national carbon price and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Net zero means greenhouse gas emissions are reduced so much that the remaining emissions can be absorbed by natural or technological means, leaving none to remain trapped in the atmosphere.
There was no direct reference to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, which is opposed by the Bloc, New Democrats and Greens as antithetical to the fight against climate change. The Trudeau government purchased the pipeline to ensure the project, which is to carry Alberta oil sands crude to the B.C. coast for export overseas, goes ahead.
Andrew Scheer, who is facing an internal battle to hang on as Conservative leader, condemned the speech for failing to admit TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 responsibility for triggering a B次元官网网址渘ational unity crisisB次元官网网址� and putting the boots to the energy sector with misguided climate change policies and environmental bills.
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He said heB次元官网网址檒l propose an amendment to the speech Friday, which would essentially replace the Liberal agenda with a Conservative one, including repealing Liberal environmental legislation and committing to creation of a national energy corridor. Scheer declined to say whether the amendment will amount to a confidence test for the government, which will depend on how itB次元官网网址檚 worded.
Singh said the NDPB次元官网网址檚 24 MPs will also be looking for amendments, but of an entirely different nature. He condemned the speech for offering nice words but little concrete action on the issues that matter most to Canadians, like pharmacare and affordable housing.
The Canadian Press
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