OTTAWA—The Conservative government will use its newly-won majority to push through economic, immigration, justice and democratic reform measures that met fierce resistance in the past, according to the blueprint for the coming Parliament.
Copyright legislation, new free trade agreements, a border security deal with the United States, and an aggressive attack on the deficit to achieve a balanced budget by 2014 are among the policies the Conservatives intend to move swiftly on.
The Conservative government, newly elected with a majority mandate on May 2, laid out their priorities in the Speech from the Throne on Friday afternoon.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also announced his government will introduce new legislation to crack down on marriages of convenience for immigration purposes and human smuggling.
The speech cast the two immigration measures as a defence against the “abuse of our system that can victimize unsuspecting Canadians and vulnerable immigrants.”
It will deliver on its long-promised end to the long-gun registry, and to the monopolies that control wheat and barley sales — all staples of Conservative platforms for years, but which were opposed by New Democrats and Liberals in the past.
It will launch a “digital economy strategy” to encourage Canadian businesses to adopt new technologies and train their workers. It promised assistance for workers who want to learn new skills, and for older workers who do not want to retire. In a previous Throne Speech, the Conservatives had pledged to eliminate mandatory retirement in federally regulated industries.
The Conservatives say they will continue to work to open foreign markets to Canadian goods. The Harper government will complete negotiations on free trade agreements with the European Union by 2012 and India by 2013.
Other than border security and trade deals, foreign policy was cast in military terms in the speech. It made brief reference to the extended training mission in Afghanistan, promised to support veterans, and to hold a debate on the Canadian participation in NATO’s Libyan mission. But there was no other reference to troubles abroad, notably Syria, nor was there any reference to Israel, and efforts to restart peace talks.
The speech repeated an election pledge to create a new Office of Religious Freedom “to promote human rights” — an ill-defined concept expected to be housed at the department of foreign affairs.
Full Article
Source: Toronto Star
Copyright legislation, new free trade agreements, a border security deal with the United States, and an aggressive attack on the deficit to achieve a balanced budget by 2014 are among the policies the Conservatives intend to move swiftly on.
The Conservative government, newly elected with a majority mandate on May 2, laid out their priorities in the Speech from the Throne on Friday afternoon.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper also announced his government will introduce new legislation to crack down on marriages of convenience for immigration purposes and human smuggling.
The speech cast the two immigration measures as a defence against the “abuse of our system that can victimize unsuspecting Canadians and vulnerable immigrants.”
It will deliver on its long-promised end to the long-gun registry, and to the monopolies that control wheat and barley sales — all staples of Conservative platforms for years, but which were opposed by New Democrats and Liberals in the past.
It will launch a “digital economy strategy” to encourage Canadian businesses to adopt new technologies and train their workers. It promised assistance for workers who want to learn new skills, and for older workers who do not want to retire. In a previous Throne Speech, the Conservatives had pledged to eliminate mandatory retirement in federally regulated industries.
The Conservatives say they will continue to work to open foreign markets to Canadian goods. The Harper government will complete negotiations on free trade agreements with the European Union by 2012 and India by 2013.
Other than border security and trade deals, foreign policy was cast in military terms in the speech. It made brief reference to the extended training mission in Afghanistan, promised to support veterans, and to hold a debate on the Canadian participation in NATO’s Libyan mission. But there was no other reference to troubles abroad, notably Syria, nor was there any reference to Israel, and efforts to restart peace talks.
The speech repeated an election pledge to create a new Office of Religious Freedom “to promote human rights” — an ill-defined concept expected to be housed at the department of foreign affairs.
Full Article
Source: Toronto Star
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