Allan Woods, CanWest News Service Published: Wednesday, April 05, 2006
OTTAWA - Stephen Harper's minority government delivered a Throne Speech yesterday that stuck to the basic Conservative campaign priorities but was sufficiently short on detail to quell opposition concerns and dilute the threat of a snap election.
The short speech was anchored by the five major Tory promises: to cut the Goods and Services Tax; reduce hospital waiting times; clean up government; crack down on crime; and start delivering $1,200 child-care allowances to families with young children.
But the Conservative government also went a little further than many had expected when the Prime Minister included pledges to bring about Senate reform; give Quebec a greater role internationally; boost relations with the United States and develop a "more robust" foreign policy.
Those, plus additional promises -- to apologize to the former Chinese head-tax payers; hold votes on international treaties; "take measures" to improve the environment and help farmers -- rounded out the field of vision for the Tories.
The government "will not try to do all things at once," said Governor-General Michaelle Jean, reading from the Speech from the Throne in the Senate chamber yesterday afternoon.
"Over the course of its mandate, and starting with the clear priorities set out today, the government will work diligently to build a record of results."
The Prime Minister said later in a televised interview that the Throne Speech sent two important signals to Canadians and to members in the House of Commons.
"Obviously this government's going to fulfill its promises beginning with its highest priority items," Mr. Harper said.
"That's obviously the key message here, but the other message is that on a range of issues where there is common ground with the opposition parties, we'll look to find room to work with them," Mr. Harper said.
Liberal leader Bill Graham said he was pleased the speech recognized the Conservatives' minority standing, and that they will need to work with the other parties.
But he said his reply to the speech, to be delivered today, will express concerns about the lack of detail around environmental issues, and the fate of a number of child-care funding deals that were signed between the previous Liberal government and the provinces.
It remains unclear, for example, if the Tories will work toward the targets set out in the Kyoto protocol, although the speech promised to achieve reductions in pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions.
However, there was no talk of defeating the government just two months into its mandate.
"Nobody's talking about an election," Mr. Graham said. "At this particular moment in our history we just finished an election. We're all talking about how we make sure we make the House work."
The Liberals will have the opportunity to propose an amendment to the Throne Speech over the next five days of debate that have been allotted. The Bloc Quebecois will also have a hand in shaping the final document before it is voted on next week.
Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe said he is also worried -- as are the Liberals -- about the lack of precision around the government's plan of action, but he said he could support the Throne Speech as it is.
Das Parlament in Ottawa

 Einen Tag nach der Konstituierung des neuen kanadischen Abgeordnetenhauses stellte der Ministerpräsident Kanadas, Stephen Harper, gestern sein Regierungsprogramm vor. Bei der Wahl vor zwei Monaten hatte seine Konservative Partei Kanadas 125 der 308 Sitze errungen.

Sie stellt eine Minderheitenregierung. Die größte Oppositionspartei ist die Liberale Partei Kanadas, die zuvor über zwölf Jahre regierte und 102 Abgeordnete stellt. Unterstützung für die neue Regierung könnte vom Bloc Québécois mit 51 und der Neuen Demokratische Partei Kanadas mit 29 Sitzen kommen.

In seiner „Thronrede“, die in Vertretung des Staatsoberhaupts Königin Elizabeth II. von Generalgouverneurin Michaëlle Jean verlesen wurde, mahnte Harper zu einem finanzpolitisch verantwortungsvollen Haushalt. Weitere Punkte waren die Senkung der unbeliebten Mehrwertsteuer und der Kampf gegen Korruption in der Regierung. Auch die Problematik einer Minderheitenregierung wurde thematisiert. „Änderungen in einem Minderheitenparlament voran zu treiben bedeutet zusammenzuarbeiten“, hieß es in der Rede.

Die Thronrede muss vom Parlament ratifiziert werden. In den nächsten Tagen sollen Änderungsvorschläge diskutiert werden, die engültige Abstimmung ist für den 24. April vorgesehen. Die Oppositionsparteien haben sich zuversichtlich geäußert, dass keine Neuwahl nötig sein wird. „Niemand spricht von einer Wahl. In diesem Augenblick unserer Geschichte haben wir gerade eine Wahl hinter uns. Wir diskutieren alle, wie wir sicherstellen können, dass dieses Haus funktioniert“, sagte Bill Graham, Parteichef der Liberalen.