In his second throne speech since becoming prime minister, Paul Martin vowed to improve health care and child care and deliver on a new deal for cities, while “treating every tax dollar with respect.”
Yesterday’s speech was delivered by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, and marked the opening of a new session of Parliament, The throne speech echoed plans Martin outlined in both his first throne speech in February and the spring federal election campaign.
The speech pledged greater fiscal accountability.
“The government will not spend itself into deficit. It will continue to pay down debt. Its objective is to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to 25 per cent within 10 years. It will provide transparent, accountable management, treating every tax dollar with respect.”
An increased emphasis on children is another key element of the government, it said.
“The time has come for a truly national system of early learning and child care, a system based on the four key principles that parents and child care experts say matter-quality, universality, accessibility and development,” Clarkson said on the government’s behalf.
The government is promising to improve the lives of aboriginal Canadians, addressing health care, employment, education and living standards.
“The government and aboriginal people will together develop specific quality-of-life indicators and a “report card” to hold all to account and to drive progress,” said Clarkson.
As for the government’s promise of a new deal for cities, the speech repeated the plan to deliver a portion of the federal gas tax to municipalities over the next five years. It didn’t say what that share would be, however.
In other highlights from the throne speech, the government promised to:
- boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement for poor seniors and tasx-based support for family caregivers;
- speed the regulatory system for business and eliminate internal trade barriers; and
- strengthen economic and security relations with the United States and increase military investment.