Gov. Gen. David Johnston implored Parliamentarians to be 鈥渟mart and caring鈥� as he delivered the throne speech to open the 42nd session of Parliament under a new Liberal government.
In the speech delivered in the Senate Friday, the governing Liberals under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlined their agenda, starting with a call for Parliamentarians to be 鈥渟mart, and caring 鈥� on a scale as never before.
鈥淭he times we live in demand nothing less,鈥� Johnston said. 鈥淐anada succeeds in large part because here, diverse perspectives and different opinions are celebrated, not silenced. Parliament shall be no exception.鈥�
Then Johnston turned to the government鈥檚 legislative and fiscal priorities, starting with a tax cut for the middle class.
"This is the fair thing to do, and the smart thing to do for Canada's economy," Johnston said.
which opposition leaders later said was thin on matters related to the economy and domestic security, outlines other priorities too, including introducing a new Canada Child Benefit, 鈥渟ignificant鈥� new investments in transit and infrastructure, and working with the provinces and territories to develop a new health accord.
鈥淭he Government will undertake these and other initiatives while pursuing a fiscal plan that is responsible, transparent and suited to challenging economic times,鈥� Johnston said.
The throne speech, which lasted approximately 15 minutes, also to reform the electoral system, work with the provinces to put a price on carbon, 鈥渓egalize, regulate and restrict鈥� access to marijuana, and launch a federal inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
The Liberals also promised to 鈥渞enew鈥� Canada鈥檚 commitment to 鈥淯nited Nations peacekeeping operations, and will continue to work with its allies in the fight against terrorism.鈥�
The speech did not address another security-related campaign promise, however, to repeal controversial aspects of the anti-terrorism legislation that was brought in by the previous Conservative government.
In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the agenda was developed by 鈥渓istening鈥� to Canadians.
鈥淐anadians have told us they want a real and fair chance at success,鈥� Trudeau said, adding 鈥淲e will restore Canadians鈥� trust in their public institutions, including the House of Commons and the Senate, by working with greater openness and transparency.鈥�
鈥楲ack of economic focus鈥�
In the speech, the Liberals said they would create a fiscal plan 鈥渢hat is responsible, transparent and suited to challenging economic times,鈥� but it did not make mention of Trudeau鈥檚 vow to run deficits of no more than $10 billion over the next three years.
Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose told CTV鈥檚 Power Play that she was struck by a 鈥渓ack of economic focus鈥� in the speech.
鈥淭here is nothing in there as a signal to the private sector about what the plan for the economy is,鈥� Ambrose said, adding there was also no mention of what the government will do to support the faltering energy sector in Western Canada.
鈥淭he energy sector just in Alberta has seen 60,000 job losses,鈥� Ambrose said. 鈥淚f there were 60,000 job losses in southern Ontario right now, it would have been mentioned in this speech from the throne.鈥�
Ambrose said the Liberals also fell short in terms of explaining how the government would address the threat of the Islamic State.
鈥淚f they can鈥檛 even name the threat, how are they ready to deal with the threat?鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll of our coalition partners step up and enhance their role in the fight against ISIS and Canada is stepping back.鈥�
As a former health minister, Ambrose said she鈥檒l keep an eye on how the government proceeds with legalizing marijuana.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to decriminalize marijuana, it鈥檚 another to legalize it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would still be very concerned about how they would structure regulations that will keep it out of the hands of youth.鈥�
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair lauded the Liberals for announcing they would put an end to 鈥渕onster鈥� omnibus bills, and 鈥減artisan鈥� advertising on the public dime.
鈥淚t鈥檚 courageous, and I think it鈥檚 long overdue,鈥� Mulcair told reporters following the speech.
Speaking on Power Play, Mulcair said the government also came up short in several areas. The speech, Mulcair said, made no mention of earlier promises such as restoring door-to-door mail delivery by Canada Post, and reverting the retirement age back to 65 from 67.
鈥淢r. Trudeau swore up and down during the campaign that he was going to bring that back from 67 to 65 鈥� a very simple, clear, concrete promise 鈥� not a word, so we鈥檙e going to have to wait and see if they do anything.鈥�
Mulcair also said that he was 鈥渟hocked鈥� that there was not a 鈥渟ingle reference鈥� to childcare in the throne speech.
