Standing amongst my colleagues Tuesday night listening to the Throne Speech in the Senate Chambers, I was struck by the practicality of the Throne Speech.  Straight and to the point, the Speech from the Throne reiterated the Government’s intention to pursue an agenda which did not make sweeping grand promises but instead focused on key areas which have the ability to make life better for Canadians.

For residents of Kelowna-Lake Country benefits come from several key directions.

First, a commitment to a long-term plan of broad-based tax relief for individuals, businesses and families, including following through on its commitment to a further cut to the GST, will put more money in your pocket. It also pledges to help those seeking to break free from the cycles of homelessness and poverty.

As the Speech from the Throne says, “The bedrock of our workforce is middle-class Canadians and their families. These families worry about the rising costs of higher education and the expense of caring for elderly parents. They worry about affordable housing and the number of homeless people on our streets. Our Government is committed to helping Canadian families meet their needs.”

Another key direction, which reflects the priorities of Kelowna-Lake Country, is the announcement of the Building Canada Plan. 

By making a major investment in our transport and trade hubs, including the Pacific gateway, our Government acknowledges one of the main priorities of our local businesses and Chambers of Commerce which is that infrastructure is fundamental to our economic growth. 

The Building Canada Plan will result in safer roads and bridges, shorter commutes, more competitive business, improved cultural infrastructure and a better quality of life.

The Government’s Safer Communities strategy will also ring true with constituents. 

Why a crime agenda?  Although statistics show national downward trends in rates of crime, the statistics do not reflect the concern over crime rates in certain centres or the fact that many in our community do not feel safe and worry about the security of our neighbourhoods.

The Government’s measures make practical sense.  It will tackle issues brought before the House of Commons in the last session, but delayed by the opposition, including the age of protection, impaired driving, dangerous offenders and stricter bail and mandatory prison sentences for those who commit gun crimes.

It will introduce new legislation to deal with property crime, auto theft, elder abuse, and identity theft.

It will also target preventive measures supporting communities and victims by helping families and local communities steer vulnerable youth away from a life of drugs and crime, implement  an Anti-Drug Strategy which will help to treat those suffering from drug addiction, and ensure effective law enforcement by recruiting more  officers.

And what about the Environment?  The Government could not have been more circumspect.

Under the Liberal Government, Canada signed onto the Kyoto Protocol and committed to reducing greenhouse emissions then spent the next decade doing nothing to try to reach those targets.  As of Tuesday night, there were only 77 days left to reach the first of the targets committed to in the protocol.  Common sense tells you it is impossible. 

But a sound environmental policy is possible.  Even one of our harshest critics, Elizabeth May of the Green Party, said there were some good measures in the Speech from the Throne.  That’s a hopeful sign.  The environment needs to stop being used as a wedge issue pitting people against each other.  We all need to make a concerted effort to do what we can and in that way we will reach our goals in a reasonable timeframe.

There is much more to be found in the Speech from the Throne on sovereignty, national security, better internal trade, support for struggling sectors such as forestry, agriculture and mining, skills training for Aboriginals and an official apology from the Government to the victims of residential schools.

It also pays special attention to the Canadian Forces.

Anyone wishing to read the full text can go to www.sft-ddt.gc.ca or if you do not have access to the web by contacting my office at 470-5075.

All in all, the Government has laid out a robust agenda that is straightforward and practical for the upcoming Parliamentary session