Speech Charts The Course.

OTTAWA, ON – Today the Governor General of Canada delivered the Speech from the Throne, charting the course for the current session of the 40th Parliament and the Government’s vision going forward.

“The Speech affirms the Government’s commitment to complete delivery of the Economic Action Plan and charts a course to economic stability in Canada”, stated James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni.

There will be a wage freeze for MPs, Senators, Parliamentary and Ministerial Budgets.

The Government will continue with its agenda on Justice Reform, cracking down on white collar crime and introducing new measures in reducing lengthy trials.  There will be measures to toughen market controls, to continue with a clean water agenda, to strengthen and develop the Arctic and the introduction of new biometric passports to enhance security.

Other measures include the creation of Vimy Ridge Day on April 9th, and the creation of a National Holocaust Memorial. Canada will join other nations in providing a qualified endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples consistent with Canadian law and our Constitution.

“The Speech from the Throne affirms the Government’s course of action for the coming year and sets the stage for the 2010 Budget”, concluded Lunney.