Roundup: An “efficient” Speech

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Yesterday’s Speech From the Throne was all of the pomp and pageantry we’ve come to expect from the opening of parliament, with a few new elements this year to reflect a few of the things Trudeau is trying to emphasise – an Indigenous drummer after the Governor General arrived, and a lengthy reception line with a number of local youths, immigrants, and Syrian refugees. The Speech itself was short and per Trudeau’s characterisation, “efficient,” which is just as well, though it led to the opposition leaders bellyaching that it didn’t mention the laundry list of things that they felt it should, including dollar figures and timelines for promises (as though any Throne Speech ever has done so). And hey, Thomas Mulcair started making snide comments in TV interviews, so the new tone of civility really lasted. Content wise, there were no surprises in the Speech, which isn’t a surprise considering that we just came out of a lengthy election, plus the ministerial mandate letters are already public, so it’s just as well that Trudeau didn’t insist on reiterating the whole platform in florid language that would have bored everyone present. (Maclean’s has an annotated copy of the Speech here). With the Speech over, the Commons proceeded to engage in some housekeeping – the pro forma Bill C-1 that asserts the independence of the Commons from the Crown, the nomination of Bruce Stanton as Deputy Speaker, bringing the Procedure and House Affairs committee into existence, and tabling of the Notice of the Ways and Means Motion that get the process of Trudeau’s middle class tax cuts rolling for January 1st. As for reaction to the Speech, Aaron Wherry, Andrew Coyne and Paul Wells all note the ambition of the agenda, while Chantal Hébert puts it all in a bit more historical context.

Good reads:

  • Jason Kenney wants to abolish applause in the Commons, and it’s like he wasn’t in a position to do something about it over the past nine years.
  • The Coast Guard had to redesign their new ships because the first new ones designed showed a likelihood of capsizing in rough weather and they should have known better.
  • Gun enthusiasts don’t like the Liberals’ proposed (modest) gun control reforms? I’m shocked! Shocked!
  • Laura Payton meets Canada’s chief climate negotiator in Paris.
  • Chris Selley pens a good column on the Liberals’ Senate reform plans, and the reactions of the other parties.
  • Susan Delacourt offers a column on making parliament family friendly, but does make mention of the time spent when connections are made.

Odds and ends:

It’s a cool Senate quiz! (I scored 9/10, because I screwed up on something I should have known better about).

Mauril Bélanger says he plans to chronicle his battle with ALS to raise awareness.