Throne speech highlights: What was in it
The Canadian Press | Posted: October 17, 2013 5:12 PM | Last Updated: October 17, 2013
Highlights from the throne speech delivered Wednesday by Gov. Gen. David Johnston:
- Legislation coming to require balanced budgets during normal economic times and strict timelines for restoring balance in the event of an crisis.
- Negotiations will soon be complete in a long-awaited comprehensive trade agreement with the European Union.
- The overall federal operating budget will be frozen.
- Government hiring will be restrained, spending systems will be reformed and public service pay and benefits will be "reasonable, responsible and in the public interest."
- Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani activist who was targeted by the Taliban over her efforts to promote education for girls, will be given honorary Canadian citizenship.
- Canadians will be permitted to take beer and spirits across provincial boundaries for personal consumption.
- The government will take steps to reduce cellphone roaming costs and will require TV providers to unbundle channels to allow consumers to pick and choose.
- The government says it will renew efforts to address the issue of murdered and missing aboriginal women.
- New tough-on-crime legislation will ensure that the worst criminals serve sentences for life and will end the practice of automatic early release for serious, repeat offenders.
- The government will get tougher on drug policy and "close loopholes that allow for the feeding of addiction under the guise of treatment."
- The government will reach out to offer more support to homeless veterans and build on a program to put veterans in good jobs.
- The National War Memorial will be re-dedicated to the memory of all who fought for the country.