Throne speech pledges ‘smart and caring’ Canada

The Liberal government unveiled a Throne Speech confirming its plans to deliver on election promises, with a focus on tax cuts, infrastructure spending, the environment and aboriginal issues. Yet government House leader Dominic LeBlanc says it’s a priority for the government to get a special joint parliamentary committee struck as early as next week to begin consultations aimed at drafting a law governing medically assisted death by next August.

Mulcair said he was concerned that the speech did not include other campaign promises, such as the restoration of door-to-door mail delivery and new oversight provisions for anti-terror legislation.

The Liberals also promised to “renew” Canada’s commitment to “United Nations peacekeeping operations, and will continue to work with its allies in the fight against terrorism”.

“Let’s not be fooled”, Ms. Ambrose told reporters.

There were no surprises in the throne speech, much as expected, but there were a number of objectives of particular interest to Kamloops.

Ms. Ambrose said she will wait to see the Liberals’ ways and means motion next week.

“If they can’t even name the threat, how are they ready to deal with the threat?” she said.

“We all want to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals, but I’m afraid they’re going to be making a move on law-abiding firearm owners”, Sopuck said.

Trudeau’s government laid out its plans in an event known as the Speech from the Throne, which largely repeated the government’s campaign promises. There is a huge void when it comes to talking about the role of the private sector.

The speech stuck largely to the Liberals’ campaign platform, but offered some identification of the Liberals’ gameplan with what was, and wasn’t, mentioned.

He still has big questions for the government, however.

The government will work jointly to implement all 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which explored the dark legacy of Canada’s now-defunct residential school system.

The government also promised to invest in public transit, green and social infrastructure.

“This is the fair thing to do, and the smart thing to do for Canada’s economy”, Gov. Gen. David Johnston said in the speech.

Johnston offered no specific details about how legalization of maijuana might work during his address to parliament.

The government also promised to create merit-based, non-partisan Senate appointment process.

Protesters took to the streets demanding former Prime Minister Stephen Harper meet with indigenous leaders and the Governor General as Attawapiskat First Nation chief Theresa Spence staged a high-profile hunger protest.