On May 27, King Charles III opened the 45th parliament of Canada with a Throne speech that highlighted the priorities of the newly elected Liberal government and reminded Canadians of the important relationship between our two countries.
It was a savvy move by Prime Minister Carney to invite the King to Canada to deliver the throne speech, given the recent tensions between the US and Canada over trade and sovereignty.
Although support for the monarchy in Canada has waned over the years, our history as a nation was recognized and represented through the King’s role in this new parliamentary session. The symbolism of the King’s throne speech this week, showcases the political dynamic of this new Liberal government. While the Bloc Québécois abstained from the speech in protest, the Liberals and Conservatives were fully represented and supportive of the King’s role in parliament, especially on the issue of a sovereign and strong Canada. The King’s participation in the throne speech blurred the lines of partisanship and created a temporary distraction from the content of the speech which is often used to challenge the government by opposition parties. The speech included strong references to our sovereignty, including mentions of “Canada’s unique identity” and “The true north is indeed strong and free”.
The speech also outlined the priorities of the Prime Minister and his new government, highlighting a shift in priorities from the Trudeau Liberals. Including a commitment to reduce government spending from an average of 9% per year to below 2% per year. Along with a focus on reducing internal trade barriers, increasing international trade, investing in housing, and a commitment to reduce red tape when it comes to projects of “national significance”, presumably including pipelines.
While the breadth and tone of the policies put forward in this throne speech is a clear shift from the previous Trudeau era government, I am hopeful that the new Carney government will put forward policies that recognize Canada’s private sector and its role in supporting Canada’s economic strength through jobs and tax revenue. The success of our country is dependent on the ability of our private sector both large and small to invest and support Canada. Canada’s private sector accounts for approximately 88% of all jobs in the country, employing over 13.5 million people, significantly contributing to our long term success as a nation. As we continue to face economic headwinds in Canada, our private sector will do the heavy lifting to support our country during this challenging time. The government must provide the regulatory and tax environment for companies to continue to grow and prosper in Canada.
Time will tell whether the Carney government can effectively implement their stated objectives, but without a strong private sector, we will not be able to sustain our country and strengthen our role in the international community.
– Dan Bordonali, President & CEO
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