Speech From the Throne Reiterates Election
Promises and Previous Commitments
Summary
On Tuesday October 23rd, the Governor General of Canada, the Honourable Mary Simon, delivered the Liberal government’s fourth Speech from the Throne. The speech, which officially opens every new session of Parliament, introduces the Government’s direction and goals, while also briefly outlining how they plan to achieve them. While this Throne Speech reflects commitments made during the recent election, it was relatively short and no new or unexpected policy items were introduced.

The Governor General began by acknowledging Canada's legacy of abuse against Indigenous peoples and encouraged society to move forward in the reconciliation process. She then spoke to seven key themes, largely a reintroduction of the Liberal Party’s election commitments:
  • ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery;
  • growing a resilient economy;
  • action on climate change;
  • creating safer communities;
  • diversity and inclusion;
  • reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; and
  • security, equity and justice in international relations.

Reconciliation, addressing the ongoing pandemic, and responding to climate change were the three most emphasized themes echoed throughout the Speech. Details regarding each theme were captured by our government relations partner, Impact Public Affairs, and are outlined below.

While infrastructure was not expressly referenced in the speech, the Government is nevertheless expected to continue its commitment to existing investments, as well as the proposed National Infrastructure Assessment, which was introduced in the previous Parliamentary session. Furthermore, ACEC is encouraged that leading up to the Throne Speech, the Government has shown an understanding that Canada’s resource sector has an important role in achieving its ambitions.

In the coming weeks, ACEC will continue to remind the Government, as it has previously acknowledged, that infrastructure is an essential means to implementing many of the priorities outlined in the speech. We will continue to advocate for the critical role the consulting engineering industry plays in supporting the government’s goal to achieve a stronger, more sustainable economy for Canada.

Stay tuned to our newsletter Source in the coming months for details and updates on ACEC’s advocacy activities and efforts on behalf of our industry. 
Details on Seven Major Themes
Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic Response

The government believes the best way to end the pandemic is through vaccination and will:
o Continue to work with partners to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines and other resources
o Strengthen the health care system and public health supports for all Canadians, especially seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities, vulnerable members of society and those who have faced discrimination
o Improve accessibility, care in rural communities, delayed procedures, long-term health care and mental health and addictions treatment
o Improve data collection across health care systems
Growing a Resilient Economy

The government pledges to:
o Rebuild an economy that works for everyone
o Move toward more targeted support for sectors that were hardest hit
o Extend or add support for industries that continue to struggle because of the pandemic
o Tackle the rising cost of living and address inflation
o To address housing affordability by implementing:
  • Housing Accelerator Fund
  • First-Time Home Buyer’s Incentive
  • Rent-to-Own Program
o To address childcare affordability by:
  • Increasing the Canada Child Benefit with the cost of living
  • Implementing a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system
  • Cutting childcare fees will in half in most provinces and territories by the end of 2022
  • Work with remaining jurisdictions who have not yet reached agreements on childcare program
o Continue increasing immigration levels and reducing wait-times, supporting family reunification, and delivering a refugee resettlement program
Action on Climate Change

The government proposes to:
o Produce the world’s cleanest steel, aluminum, building products, cars, and planes
o Work with provinces, territories, municipalities, and Indigenous communities, and the labour and private sector, to tap into global capital and attract investors
o Cap and cut oil and gas sector emissions
o Work toward a 100% net-zero electricity future
o Invest in public transit and mandate the sale of zero emissions vehicles
o Increase the price on pollution
o Protect lands and oceans to address biodiversity loss
o Strengthen partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, to protect nature
o Create the Canada Water Agency to safeguard our vital resources and support farmers
o Develop Canada’s first-ever National Adaptation Strategy to prevent and prepare for natural disasters
Creating Safer Communities

The government plans to:
o Strengthen gun control through a mandatory buyback of assault-style weapons
o Work with any province working to ban handguns
o Create a ten-year national action plan to address gender-based violence
o Combat racism and hate through a renewed anti-racism strategy
Diversity and Inclusion

The government intends to:
o Reform the criminal justice system and policing
o Invest in Black and racialized communities
o Invest in Indigenous communities
o Move forward with a ban on conversion therapy
o Reintroduce the proposed Act for the Substantive Equality of French and English
o Strengthen the Official Languages Act
o Reintroduce legislation to reform the Broadcasting Act
o Ensure web giants pay their fair share for the creation and promotion of Canadian content
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

The government proposes to:
o Create a national monument to honour survivors of the Canadian residential school system
o Appoint an interlocutor to advance justice on residential schools
o Invest in distinctions-based a mental health and wellness strategy
o Ensure fair and equitable compensation for those harmed by the First Nations Child and Family Services program
o Continue to implement the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into law
o Continue to work towards ending all drinking water advisories in Indigenous communities
Security, Equity & Justice in International Relations

The government will work to:
o Reinforce international peace and security, the rule of law, democracy, and respect for human rights in response to rising authoritarianism
o Make efforts to deepen partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region and across the Arctic
o Increase Canada’s foreign assistance budget each year
o Invest in sustainable, equitable, and feminist development that benefits the world’s most vulnerable and promotes gender equality