It’s time for the Speech From the Throne! Finally! Amidst all of the largely futile speculation – and the speculation about whether all of the consumer-focused hints are distracting us from something else – we also have learned that the government plans to give honorary citizenship to Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai, which I’m guessing is an attempt at a consolation prize for the Nobel Peace Prize that she didn’t win. The Conservatives have put together an animated trailer for the Speech From the Throne, narrated by Shelly Glover, and done up in nothing but Conservative blue. Go targeted messaging, go! While the economy will no doubt be the prime focus, so many of the issues at play – such as pipelines and trade agreements – are actually out of the government’s hands. John Geddes points to the limitations of the consumer-driven focus that we are anticipating, while Michael Den Tandt points to the risks of such a move. Brent Rathgeber gives his wish list here. Kady O’Malley reminds us of the vigorous opposition that Pierre Poilievre had to an airline bill of rights the last time the NDP proposed it – oh, how things have changed. And yes, in case you were wondering, Senators Duffy, Wallin and Brazeau are all invited to attend as sitting Senators – and that the motion to suspend Brazeau needs to be moved again because it’s a new session.

Still on the topic, PostMedia speaks to the new Usher of the Black Rod about his debut performance, and gives you five things you may not have known about the tradition of the Speech From the Throne. The Senate’s communications team has helpfully provided an infographic about the entire process.

The Conservatives have proposed a kind of omnibus housekeeping motion to open the new session, which ties the motion on the study of replacing the Board of Internal Economy with the resurrection of dead bills, and the opposition is already bristling about.

The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner has issued new directives that state that ministers and parliamentary secretaries can make representations on behalf of a constituent – but only if they’re not family. It does seem like a slippery slope, though.

The Liberals’ parliamentary – MPs and Senators both – expenses are now posted. It’s not overly detailed, but it’s the same model that cabinet ministers use, and Trudeau has repeatedly said that this is a first step until other parties can sign onto a new regime. The NDP have called this a stunt because they want a replacement for the Commons’ Board of Internal Economy and a new internal bureaucracy to take these expenses and post them on their behalf so as to end any notion of it being an “honour system.”

And on the subject of the Liberals, six months after their leadership campaign, most of the leadership candidates still owe substantial campaign debts, mostly from loans to themselves. And while everyone is saying this is another repeat of 2006, the party ensured that the debt levels weren’t very high this time, and it’s only been six months, not six years.

The Chief Electoral Officer has assembled a high-profile and multi-partisan panel to advise on ways in which to modernise and reform our electoral system and processes. In other words, this is his way of lighting a fire under the government to get their proposals on the table so that they can be passed as soon as possible, if they’re to be implemented before the next election (due in 2015). John Geddes posts his interview with Marc Mayrand about these issues here.

Jordan Press looks at the issue of when and how Harper may tackle future Senate vacancies, knowing that it’s a reminder that he’s the one who appointed three of the four Senators in hot water. I will disagree with the notion that electing Senators would have avoided this mess, because there have been plenty of spending scandals among elected officials as well. Meanwhile, the sentiment for abolition is growing in the Conservative caucus, apparently, but it’s hardly surprising that a governing party would want to keep around an independent body who can challenge their authority and legislation.

The saga of the Sea King replacements rolls along as the government is talking a major rethink of the whole thing, talking to other helicopter manufacturers about smaller and less capable helicopters rather than ones that are supposed to do everything, given how much of a flop that has been.

The UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples completed his nine-day visit to Canada, and made a number of observations and recommendations in advance of his full report.

It looks like the government may have paid for part of the costs for the New York appearance before business audiences where Stephen Harper gave his now infamous “I’m not taking no for an answer” speech.

Paul Wells talks to Samara about his new book on Stephen Harper, The Longer I’m Prime Minister…

And here’s a flashback to the very first Speech From the Throne in 1867, in case you’re curious about what was pressing back at the dawn of Confederation.