Governor General Mary Simon opened the First Session of the 44th Parliament of Parliament on Tuesday afternoon by summarizing the “priorities” of Canadians, which she said are “clear”. They aspire to “a more resilient economy and a cleaner, healthier future for all our children,” she argued in a speech delivered mainly in English (78% or 2,290 words), but also in French (19 % or 562 words) and Inuktitut (3% or 98 words).
The first Indigenous Governor General of Canada walked on Tuesday afternoon tens of meters of red carpet, sometimes plain, sometimes embellished with green, yellow and blue maple leaves before entering the Senate Chamber. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Richard Wagner, dressed in a red coat edged with ermine, and about 20 senators were waiting for him.
After the arrival of deputies, Mary Simon pleaded for the construction of a “sustainable and united Canada”, more than two months after the election of last September 20. This resulted in the election of 160 Liberals, 119 Conservatives, 32 Bloc, 25 NDP and two Greens. “Canadians made a democratic choice. They clearly indicated the way forward: parliamentarians must work together to end the pandemic and find bold and concrete solutions to meet the other challenges, ”she said.
The need to “grow an economy that benefits everyone”, to “fight climate change”, to “pursue reconciliation”, in addition to “ensuring that our communities are safe, healthy and inclusive” are among these “Other challenges” that Canada must overcome. “The start of the decade has been extremely difficult, but the time to rebuild has arrived,” she said, calling on parliamentarians to “put [r] on collaboration and [à s’]listen [r] each other “. “Canadians expect these results. They need it. “
While stressing that the “top priority” of the Government and Parliament remains the “control” of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mary Simon reaffirmed the will of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to impose national standards on the provinces in terms of health . Ottawa is determined to ‘strengthen’ long-term care and mental health services by ‘working [ant] with the provinces and territories ”.
Curb inflation
The Canadian government will continue to fight against the rising cost of living by prioritizing the construction of housing, including affordable housing, and places in child care services. “Investing in affordable child care, or housing, doesn’t just benefit families. It grows the whole economy. Like immigration, ”said Mary Simon, noting in passing that the Trudeau government“ will continue to increase immigration ”.
Fight against climate change
The Governor General also echoed the speech according to which it is “time” to “move more quickly towards completely carbon neutral electricity”, in particular by capping and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sectors and by forcing the sale of zero emission vehicles.
Gun control
The Vice-Queen echoed the dismay felt by the people of Montreal at the outbreak of gun violence, less than 10 days after the shooting murder of 16-year-old Thomas Trudel in the borough of Villeray –Saint-Michel – Parc-Extension.
Nearly 600 guns have been seized by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) since the start of 2021.
The representative of the monarch Elizabeth II in Canada recalled that the federal government is giving free rein not only to the municipalities, but also to the provinces to tighten the control of handguns on their territory. “The government has taken important steps like a lifetime background check. The government will now introduce measures such as the compulsory buy-back of already banned assault weapons, ”said Mary Simon.
The government has also decided, according to the notes in front of it, to deploy a “ten-year national action plan on gender-based violence” and a new “strategy to combat racism”. “When a person in our country is targeted because of their gender, the person they love, their origin, the way they pray, the language they speak or the color of their skin, we are all weak, ”argued Mary Simon.
Reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people
Mary Simon also reiterated the will of the government of the day to promote reconciliation with indigenous nations by “transforming [ant] the guilt that overwhelms us in concrete actions… actions in favor of reconciliation ”. “Reconciliation is not a one-off gesture with a deadline. Reconciliation is a lifelong journey to healing, respect and understanding, ”she said.
Ottawa will erect a national monument in memory of survivors of former residential schools, in addition to appointing a “special interlocutor”, who will be responsible for “advancing justice”, we can also read in the Speech from the Throne.
Moreover, Mary Simon had taken care to recognize the “unceded territory of the Algonquin Anichinabe people” on which deputies and senators are in parliament. “This recognition of the territory is not a simple symbolic declaration. It is part of our real history ”, she argued, before proposing a“ little exercise ”to parliamentarians. “Seek the truth and get to know the daily realities of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. “
Canada’s return to the international stage?
On the other hand, the Governor General affirmed the will of the Liberal government to strengthen its presence in “coalitions, organizations and international partners”, particularly “in the Indo-Pacific region and throughout the Arctic”. Canada will advocate for the “preservation” and “expansion” of “open and rules-based trade,” said Mary Simon, while noting that “a changing world requires adaptation and growth. diplomacy “. “Faced with the rise of authoritarianism and the struggle between the great powers, Canada must strengthen international peace and security, the rule of law, democracy and respect for human rights,” argued Mrs. Simon.
Further details will follow.
With Marie Vastel