This week, the General Governor delivered the 150th Speech from the Throne, after parliament was prorogued this summer. 


** Throne Speech 2020
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This week, Governor General Julie Payette delivered the Government’s Speech from the Throne (SFT) A Stronger and More Resilient Canada ([link removed]) . The speech comes after Prime Minister Trudeau prorogued parliament back in the summer, and kicks off the fall session of parliament.


** Overview
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The SFT outlined various priorities of the government for the next 12 months with no specific budget implications. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, is expected to deliver a fiscal update dubbed an Economic Response Plan, in the coming weeks. The SFT had four key themes:
* Protecting Canadians from COVID-19
* Supporting Canadians and business through the crisis
* Building back better through a resilient recovery
* And standing up for Canadian values at home and abroad.


** Highlights
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Several items bode well with CBTU priorities including:
* Investments in infrastructure including public transit, universal broadband connectivity, clean energy and building energy efficiency upgrade supports;
* Making large investments to train and employ workers;
* Extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to next summer and the creation of a new disability benefit
* Create the transitional Canada Recovery Benefit for those who don’t qualify for Employment Insurance until EI is expanded in the coming months to include gig workers and the self-employed
* Create a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system, learning from the Quebec model; and a commitment to subsidized before and after school care.
* Create an Action Plan for Women in the Economy
* Eliminating remaining barriers between provinces to full, free internal trade
* Implement national, universal pharmacare
* Address the opioid epidemic by increasing access to medicine
* Increase diversity through procurement

The commitment to jobs, training and infrastructure investments, specifically in increase diversity through procurement, align with the CBTU’s priority to push Community Benefit Agreements on federal infrastructure stimulus and will be one of the areas we will continue to monitor and lobby the government on.

A fall election looks unlikely. Starting today, Members of Parliament have began debate on the Throne Speech, under newly approved rules for both physical and virtual participation. The Conservatives have already said they won’t support the speech, and the Bloc and NDP have conditions they want met first.

The Speaker will interrupt debate before the end of the sixth day to put all the questions necessary to dispose of the main motion. If a vote defeats the main motion, it serves as an expression of non-confidence in the government. Prime Minister Trudeau needs only the support of the NDP or the Bloc to survive the confidence vote. Otherwise, the Governor General would prorogue Parliament and ask the Leader of the Official Opposition if they wish to attempt to form government with other parties. Given this is unlikely, the Governor General would then dissolve Parliament and issue the writs for a General Election. Stay tuned for more.

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