On Tuesday, Canada’s Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean delivered a “Throne Speech” on behalf of Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government.


Traditionally, the Throne Speech doesn't make much of a noise away from Parliament but this one, aired on prime time TV was accompanied by all the intrigue of a poker game. It was expected that Mr. Harper would take advantage of the Conservatives’ lead in the polls to trigger an election by loading the Speech with a poison pill that Liberal Leader, Stéphane Dion could not swallow.


Dion fooled him. He delivered a scathing rebuttal that offered a series of amendments to the Speech that would be acceptable to Canadians. Harper rejected them and moved acceptance of the Speech as delivered. The Liberals refused to vote on Harper’s motion, knowing it would trigger an unwanted election. With support from the Bloc Quebecois, the Conservatives’ motion to accept the Speech was carried by Parliament.


The Conservatives immediately introduced a Bush-like Crime Bill designed to inflame the Opposition and trigger another election challenge.


In his response to the Speech from the Throne, Harper promised to strengthen Canada’s sovereignty and place in the world; protect our environment; steer our economy toward long-term prosperity; modernize our federation and our democratic institutions; and make our streets and communities safe again. According to Mr. Harper, our most important sovereignty challenge is the Arctic, where retreating polar ice, rising global demand for resources and the prospect of year-round shipping are creating new challenges and exciting opportunities for the North.


He acknowledges that our role in the world is not just about Arctic sovereignty; it is also about actions beyond our borders and relationships with the international community. He would continue to rebuild the military and defend our mission in Afghanistan as a noble and necessary endeavour. He says “The mission in Afghanistan reflects our conviction that Canadian foreign policy must promote our values and defend our interests.” Could be a page from the global playbook of George W.


Harper abandons the Kyoto Accord on climate change and embraces the Asian Pacific alternative, claiming its targets are among the most aggressive in the world.He announced a reduction in personal income taxes, a further 1% reduction in the GST and a long-term plan of broad-based tax relief that would further reduce taxes for businesses, individuals and families.


He says that his Party has long been “committed to low taxes, direct benefits for families” and a free market powered by the private sector. Everyone wants lower taxes but tax reductions should be used to stimulate economic activity. Tax revenues should be used to improve the life circumstance of Canadians.


The Prime Minister promises to introduce legislation that would place formal limits on the use of federal spending power in areas of provincial jurisdiction and to provide for the opting out of federal-provincial programs by provinces with compensation. He also promises to reintroduce a Senate bill that would reduce term lengths and seek public consensus on Senate appointments – an attempt to end-run constitutional amendment.


Harper’s first priority, post Throne Speech appears to be an anti-crime Bill that would put the rights of law-abiding citizens ahead of the rights of accused criminals. It would introduce mandatory prison time for serious gun crimes. It would make it tougher for accused gun criminals to get bail. It would give police and prosecutors more tools to get impaired drivers off the road. It would make sure violent, repeat and dangerous offenders stay behind bars.


While the intent may be laudable, the language reminds us of the Dick Cheney approach to “enemy combatants”.


Stéphane Dion, as might be expected was highly critical of the Throne Speech. He noted its ambiguity in respect to Afghanistan, the length of mission in Kandahar and Canada’s role as an offensive combat force. He also questions why the government has asked the panel, headed by John Manley to look at options for Canada’s role in Afghanistan when the Throne Speech chooses an option – training of the Afghan army and police.


Dion challenges the Prime Minister’s unilateral promise to reform the Senate without Constitutional amendment or provincial agreement. On the matter of limiting federal spending powers in areas of provincial jurisdiction, Mr. Dion correctly reminds us that the federal spending power was instrumental in building Canada-wide social programs such as Medicare, the Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance, etc.


In respect to the economy, Dion argues that the Harper government has done more harm than good in terms of Canada's international competitiveness. He notes that Harper has promised to spend another $12 billion per year to cut the GST by a point, a measure that does nothing to combat poverty or make our economy more competitive. On the matter of climate change, Dion quotes the Sierra Club of Canada's Kyoto report card for 2007.


The Report observes that the Conservative Government cut over $5 billion worth of investment in environment and climate change programs last year. “Federal programs were slashed, and the importance of addressing global warming was downplayed.” also “The Canadian government’s efforts at the international climate change conference in Montreal won Canada international praise…Under the new Conservative government, Canada quickly went from hero to zero… At an international conference in Bonn, Canada attempted to sabotage the Kyoto Protocol.”

In a spirit of compromise and good will, Mr. Dion offered amendments to the Throne Speech: that the Government take action to catch up on its Kyoto obligations; that Canada announce that its offensive combat mission in Kandahar will end in February 2009; that the Government address the issue of poverty in Canada and that Government bring forward measures to improve the economy.


Mr. Harper refused to consider any of these amendments, thus confirming his distain for Parliament and the Canadian people.

W.E. (Bill) Belliveau is a Shediac resident and Moncton business consultant. He can be contacted at bill.bellstrategic@nb.aibn.com Atlantic Insight is a published Blog inventory of opinion articles published weekly in New Brunswick's print media as written by W.E. (Bill) Belliveau, who is a resident of Shediac, New Brunswick, and small business owner, operating his Moncton-based marketing consultancy, Bell Strategic. He can be reached by e-mail at mailto:bill.bellstrategic@nb.aibn.com