The Speech from the Throne

The Speech from the Throne opened the 41^st Parliament of Canada on June 3, 2011. In the address, the government described a fragile global economy that poses risks to recovery from the recent economic downturn. In Canada, the aging workforce is of concern, affecting productivity and straining pensions and the healthcare system. At the same time, the need to return to a balanced budget is going to require a review of government spending, as keeping taxes low and maintaining transfers to provinces and individuals is a priority of the government.

Some other goals highlighted in the Speech from the Throne include:

• To negotiate a free trade agreement with the European Union by 2012 and with India by 2013
• To establish a new, national securities regulator
• To implement Pooled Retirement Pension Plans
• To end the long gun registry
• To ensure that people living on reserve have the same matrimonial real property rights and protections as other Canadians
• To give access to clean water and clean energy technology to Aboriginal and northern communities
• To work with the U.S. on the Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness
• To establish a new Office of Religious Freedom
• To introduce measures to combat marriage fraud and human smuggling
• To create new protected areas for our national parks and to develop a National Conservation Plan
• To support the Lower Churchill hydroelectricity project in Atlantic Canada.
• To reintroduce comprehensive law-and-order legislation to combat crime and terrorism and to reintroduce legislation to clarify and strengthen laws on self-defence, protection of property and citizen's arrest
• To introduce legislation to ensure that wheat and barley can be sold on the open market
• To limit Senate term lengths and to encourage provinces and territories to elect Senate nominees
• To eliminate the per vote subsidy for political parties
• To reach an agreement on tax harmonization with Quebec no later than September 15, 2011
• To maintain the six percent escalator for the Canada Health Transfer

The 2011 Budget, first introduced on March 22, 2011, will have details of these and other measures when it is tabled on June 6^th.

ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: Distinguished FInancial Advisor and Master Financial Advisor Designations