|
The Appropriate Political Response to the Speech from The Throne Nation-Wrecking No! Stop Paying the Rich; Increase Investments in Social Programs!On August 17, the Prime Minister asked the Governor-General to prorogue the first session of the 43rd Parliament. The second session will open on September 23 with a Speech from The Throne in which Prime Minister Trudeau says he will lay out his government's "new approach" and the House of Commons will have the opportunity to determine its confidence in his Government. The new approach is rooted in the claim that the government is now addressing the growing inequalities in the society, championing the 99 per cent against the one per cent. The pandemic didn't exist at the time of the last Throne Speech; it is a new situation and Canada can't go back to the old status quo, Trudeau said at a press conference.
His plan, to be "unveiled over the coming weeks" and detailed in his Throne Speech, will be "long-term" and address "the fundamental gaps this pandemic has unmasked," he said. Trudeau told the press conference, "We need to get through this pandemic in a way that gives everyone a real and fair chance at success, not just the wealthiest one per cent." In his press conference speech, Trudeau described Canada and the world as being "at a crossroads." He spoke about the resurgence of COVID-19 in Australia and New Zealand, which are currently in their winter, and said "ours is still ahead." He called for vigilance and declared that "the fight is still far from over." He said parents are not only worried about things such as the return to school. There is also unemployment, difficult choices for women (between children and careers), the "extra barriers" facing "racialized Canadians" and Indigenous people, and young people worrying about their future as they deal with "unexpected burdens." Trudeau said that there is "an emerging international consensus" that now is the time to "think boldly and rebuild even stronger." Low interest rates mean the cost of stimulating the economy is low. Countries with strong fiscal positions, like Canada, have to invest to help people through the crisis.
At the press conference, Trudeau was asked why he is using prorogation when his election platform promised not to do so. He differentiated his use of prorogation from that of former Prime Minister Harper, who used it to avert a confidence motion. Trudeau says his government's renovated plan (in other words, not his government's corruption) will be put to a vote of confidence. The 2019 Throne Speech didn't even mention the word pandemic -- how can the plan set then simply remain, he asked. The standings of the parties in the House of Commons at the time the 43rd Session of Parliament was prorogued were: Liberal -- 156; Conservative -- 121; Bloc Québécois -- 32; NDP -- 24; Green -- 3; Independent 2. The Liberals need 170 votes to retain the confidence of the House. This issue of TML Weekly carries several articles which inform what the pay-the-rich schemes of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland are all about.
This article was published in   Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca |
As if the
inequalities and injustices of the society were not obvious before the
pandemic and as if the policy to pay the rich will no longer prevail,
Trudeau said the pandemic has "highlighted inequalities that still
exist and the vulnerabilities we have as a society." The pandemic, he
said, has "taught important lessons;" this is now a
"once-in-a-life-time" chance to set out a plan that will create not the
same Canada, but a new Canada.
"Our G7 allies,
whether it is Germany or the United Kingdom, or our partners like the
European Union or south Korea, they all understand that this is a time
to act. And we must seize the opportunity as well. We have a choice to
make. We can decide to move forward instead of returning to the status
quo. We can choose to embrace bold new solutions to the challenges we
face, and refuse to be held back by old ways of thinking. As much as
this pandemic is an unexpected challenge, it is also an unprecedented
opportunity. This is our chance to build a more resilient Canada: a
Canada that is healthier and safer, greener and more competitive. A
Canada that is more welcoming and more fair. This is our moment to
change the future for the better."