Vague on Northern commitments
Throne speech pledges more cuts, re-announces funding for NWT projects
Laura Busch
Northern News Services
Published Friday, October 18, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Canada's North was highlighted several times Wednesday as Governor General David Johnston read the Speech from the Throne to open the second session of the 41st Parliament of Canada. However, the speech fell short of making new commitments to Northern people or providing new funds for Northern projects.
Throne speech commitments
- A balanced budget by 2015
- New legislation requiring federal government to keep a balanced budget
- 25 per cent debt to GDP ratio by 2021.
- Freeze overall operating budget and hiring
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program reform
- Complete a free trade agreement with the European Union.
- Create an Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act to allow trans-provincial and territorial boundary crossing with alcohol
- Enshrine the Polluter Pay Principle into law
- One-for-one rule enshrined in law that will require one regulation be taken away for every new regulation imposed on businesses
- Require cable providers to unbundle packages
- Reform election laws.
Source: 2013 Throne Speech
|
Developing natural resources was a common theme, as was surmounting a "lack of infrastructure" that threatens to "strand these resources" - alluding to the construction of controversial pipelines to the west coast of British Columbia, or potentially up the Mackenzie Valley.
The speech also committed to training Northerners for the resource-development jobs that are coming.
"Our government recognizes that the future prosperity of the North requires responsible development of its abundant natural resources," read Johnston. "Northerners must benefit from this treasure. Our government will work alongside Inuit, First Nations, territorial governments and industry to ensure that Northerners are well trained to take their place in this new economy."
During the three-and-a-half minutes the hour-long address focused on Canada's North, Johnston read that the Conservative government will focus on finalizing the devolution of lands and resources to the GNWT, extending the Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk, expanding the Canadian Rangers, and finishing ongoing projects in Nunavut, including a High Arctic research station.
The much-anticipated speech did not justify the most recent prorogation of Parliament for Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington.
"I think the throne speech was a bit of a non-event," he said. "They spent a good deal of time talking about what they've done, or what they thought they've done."
The Speech from the Throne is provided by the ruling party and aims to set the agenda for the upcoming session of Parliament.
In terms of its implications for the North, Bevington said the government fell short of making clear commitments and opted to re-announce projects that have already received federal investment. Also, there was absolutely no mention of global warming or melting permafrost and sea ice, which he found troubling.
The government did give clear details on its intentions to continue to freeze the hiring of public service employees and pledging to further cut spending.
"When are they going to recognize the slippery slope they're on with the public service," asked Bevington. "That the service these people provide will impact our whole economy."
On Wednesday, Yellowknifer watched the Speech from the Throne with members of social-justice group Alternatives North.
"If I was a federal employee, I would be worried," said Ben McDonald. "It sounds like they're saying anything standing in the way of business doing business is bad."
