The participation of King Charles III in the rituals which launched a new session of the Canadian Parliament was no casual thing. His presence was sought, and his participation calculated.
The King’s remarks served to remind Canadians, and signal to our neighbours to the south and the world, that Canada has its own history and evolution as a nation linked to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. And Canada has its own proud and independent history of achievement and leadership in the world.
In the Throne Speech the King made this very clear, lest anyone think Canadian sovereignty and history is a trivial thing. Canadians certainly don’t think it trivial. But in the face of the existential challenge presented by President Trump’s threats to Canada’s economy and sovereignty, it was comforting to hear this stated in the plummy, warm voice of a King.
There were times at the beginning of Trump’s taunts that Canada and Canadians felt alone in the world, even abandoned by the Mother Country when the UK Prime Minister invited President Trump for an unprecedented second state visit. The King reassured Canadians with these words:
“We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War. Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes.
Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them. … Yet this moment is also an incredible opportunity. … A confident Canada… can seize this opportunity by recognising that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away.
……[T]he Government is working to strengthen its relationships with reliable trading partners and allies around the world, recognizing that Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects.
… Canada is ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its values, that believe in international co-operation and the free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas. In this new, fast-evolving world, Canada is ready to lead. …”
A Throne Speech is also the occasion for the Government to lay out its agenda for the new Parliament. The King, using the same warm, plummy voice, spoke about the minutia of campaign promises made and being kept. That’s part of the job.
The Speech contained few, if any, surprises in terms of the policy priorities of the new Government. We have heard much of it over the past few weeks and months in the form of the Liberal Party campaign platform and from the Prime Minister and his Cabinet since the election:
- Building a more affordable Canada, including commitments around childcare, pharmacare and dental care programs and GST relief on certain home purchases.
- Building a stronger Canada, including breaking down inter-provincial trade barriers, accelerating the pace of infrastructure project approvals (in part by creating a “Major Federal Project Office”) while remaining committed to protecting the environment, and building more homes faster.
- Building a safer and more secure Canada, including commitments around border security, protecting the North, and safety and security in our communities.
- Building a united Canada and protecting what “makes us unique”- a mash-up of many things, including the French language and Quebec culture, Indigenous peoples in Canada, CBC/Radio Canada, respect for the environment, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Less obviously, “Building a united Canada” is also said to include government price controls of dairy and poultry and caps on immigration.
- Building Canada Strong by spending less and investing more, “a new fiscal discipline” that includes a commitment to balance the Government’s operating budget over the next three years while also taking steps to encourage new investment.
The full text of the Speech from the Throne can be found here.
The 45th Parliament now begins. Things are not likely to proceed as smoothly as they did on the picture-perfect opening day.
For starters, this is a minority Parliament (again). In spite of benefitting from an extraordinary change in political fortunes (thanks to President Trump), the Liberals fell a few seats short of a majority. That means that to pass legislation they need the support of some Opposition members or some strategic absences on the Opposition benches when votes are called. For a while, the Opposition will oblige as the Canadian electorate does not want another election any time soon. The public understands that these are serious times and they want the Government to do its job.
Controlling a minority Parliament requires diligence and skill. The Trudeau Government had a deal with the NDP that sustained them. No such deals will likely be made this time so things will need to be resolved day to day which can be exhausting.
Also to be noted is that the Liberal minority does not control Parliamentary Committees which play a key role in reviewing proposed legislation and moving legislation “out of Committee” and on to the floor of the House for a vote. After a short honeymoon, expect Committees to become raucous. Opposition Parties can move and pass amendments to legislation “at Committee stage” and in the House, seriously undermining the Government’s proposed legislation. Shenanigans at Committee and procedural games in the House stymied the minority Trudeau Liberals for months.
The absence of a Budget Bill until the Fall (three quarters into the current fiscal year) will avoid much of the potential for Committee and House disruptions. However, delaying a budget that late in the fiscal year is unusual and would have the House approving spending ex post facto as “Estimates”, which are periodically tabled to authorize ongoing spending, contain few details.
Prime Minister Carney has a level of popularity with the public that Prime Minister Trudeau did not have in his last two years. If Mr. Carney sustains this popularity he could use it, and also enlist friendly Provincial Premiers, to pressure the Opposition to get out of his way.
Minority Parliaments rarely survive more than 18–24 months. Given the current geopolitical context this one may well endure longer than that.