Speech from the Throne

Devolin Column
April 6, 2006


For the first time in more than a decade, this week’s Speech from the Throne was produced by a Conservative government.

For those unfamiliar with parliamentary process, the Speech from the Throne lays out the Government’s agenda for Parliament. In this historical ceremony, Members of the House of Commons visit the Senate where the Governor General reads a speech – written by the Prime Minister – that identifies the priorities of his Government.

It is generally agreed that this Speech was more focused and straightforward than recent efforts. In fact, it took less than 20 minutes to deliver and was only 11 pages long.

Canada's new government has five key priorities, which were clearly articulated during the recent federal election campaign. These are:

· Bringing accountability back to Ottawa;
· Helping ordinary Canadians and their families, including reducing the GST;
· Tackling crime;
· Providing child care choice and support; and
· Ensuring Canadians get the health care they have paid for in a timely manner.

Prior to the Speech from the Throne, Prime Minister Stephen Harper talked to opposition leaders to seek their input. This is something that all opposition parties complained about in the last parliament – that the government did not seriously consult with them on important matters.

Also this week, thousands of farmers visited Parliament Hill to deliver a message to MP’s and the government. In short, farmers need help and they need it immediately.

I had the chance to meet with several farmers from my riding, and I thanked them for making the four hour drive to Ottawa to put their message across to the government and people of Canada. Both Prime Minister Harper and Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl met with farm leaders and listened carefully to their presentations.

I know that Ontario farmers need support from their federal and provincial governments. Many farmers are coming off the worst 3 years in net income in history. Many can’t pay bills from 2005, and many are wondering if it’s even worth their while to plant crops this year.

That’s why it’s so important to deliver short-term assistance while working on a long term strategy which levels the playing field for Canadian farmers with their international competitors. Failure to do so will seriously jeopardize Canada’s food sovereignty, and will result in the loss of multi-generational farms across the country.

In closing, I believe that the new government is off to a good start this week. We have a clearly defined set of priorities for Parliament, and we have recognition that Canadian farmers need immediate attention. I look forward to reporting back progress to you on both fronts in the coming weeks and months.