It also promised significant new investment in infrastructure, including public transit, to boost the stagnant economy.
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But it wasn’t clear whether the Liberals would be able to stick to their campaign pledge to limit budget deficits to 10 billion Canadian dollars ($7.5 billion) per year.
The speech said the government would create a new “nation-to-nation relationship” with indigenous peoples. There is no mention of the agriculture sector, the auto sector, the forestry sector, the energy sector, none of them are present in the Speech from the Throne. The speech affirmed the government’s commitment to admit 25,000 refugees from Syria by the end of February, an extension of its earlier promise to reach the target by the end of this month.
Despite the speech’s silence on the public service, Treasury Board President Scott Brison said the government needs a strong public service to carry out its progressive agenda.
“I think that the chiefs and indigenous people across Canada have been heartened by what exactly is in the mandate letter of every minister”, Bennett said in an interview with The Canadian Press. Rather, it promised more generally to produce “a fiscal plan that is responsible, transparent and suited to challenging economic times”.
The speech vowed that the government will “get handguns and assault weapons off our streets”, echoing language in their campaign platform that committed to, amongst other things, bringing back regulatory paperwork required to transport certain types of weapons, kick in more money for anti-gang squads, increase background checks for gun purchases, and to increase regulations on gun vendors.
The government has already taken steps, such as letting federal scientists know they can speak publicly, clarifying the role of political staff when dealing with public servants, and reinstating the long-form census.
“To contribute to greater peace throughout the world, the government will renew Canada’s commitment to United Nations peacekeeping operations, and will continue to work with its allies in the fight against terrorism”, it said. The speech repeats the Liberal plan to reform Canada’s Employment Insurance system, “to make sure that it best serves both the Canadian economy and all Canadians who need it”. However, for the first time, the government said it will restrict access to marijuana but did not elaborate.
He said: “Canadians have told us they want a real and fair chance at success”.
Canada’s new Liberal authorities again promised Fri.to legalize marijuana in a speech outlining its agenda as Parliament resumes after the October 19 election.
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However, the NDP Leader expressed concern at the lack of attention given to issues such as reforming the controversial Bill C-51 on national security and the fact that the Liberal pledge to keep the qualifying age for Old Age Security at 65 was not mentioned.
