Federal gov’t introduces consumer-friendly Throne Speech

OTTAWA – The federal government says it will introduce legislation requiring balanced budgets during normal economic times, and “concrete timelines” for restoring balance after an economic crisis.

The measure is included in the speech from the throne being delivered today by Gov. Gen. David Johnson.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says a promise of a balanced budget on any political level is nothing new.

However, Jordan Bateman with the CTF says the address had one clear highlight. “The long-awaited promise of balanced budget legislation. And our encouragement to parties on all sides to really put some teeth into this legislation.”

He says passing the promised legislation will provide relief to taxpayers. “A balanced budget is really key to a bunch of future tax cuts the Conservatives have promised.”

Bateman says they’ve been calling for balanced budget legislation for almost 20 years.

In the speech, the government also says it intends to reduce wireless roaming costs and require television channels to be “unbundled.”

Dave Wilkes with the Retail Council of Canada says there’s one big thing missing in the throne speech for consumers. “The credit card fees, we were hoping that there would have been a signal that there needs to be more aggressive regulation introduced to lower the cost, rather than just disclosure.”

He’s pleased to hear the coming federal budget will address the price gap between products in the US and Canada but was hoping for more detail.

The federal government is also promising a new law prohibiting the non-consensual distribution of intimate images, a key element of a legislative package to address cyberbullying.

The pledge in today’s Throne Speech follows a number of troubling incidents involving young people, including that of British Columbia’s Amanda Todd and Nova Scotia teenager Rehtaeh Parsons.

The speech, which includes a mix of old and new criminal justice proposals, says the government will give police and prosecutors new tools to effectively address cyberbullying that involves criminal invasion of privacy, intimidation and personal abuse.

The government says it would also change the law so that the worst criminals spend their entire life behind bars, although it is unclear how this would differ from existing dangerous offender designations.

Another bill, dubbed Quanto’s Law in honour of a German shepherd killed on police duty, would introduce specific penalties for harming law-enforcement service animals.

It also says Canada “will soon complete” negotiations for a long-awaited comprehensive free-trade deal with the European Union, billed as having the potential to create some 80,000 new Canadian jobs.

The speech promises in vague terms to “address the issue” of missing and murdered aboriginal women, and to work with First Nations to develop more robust and accountable on-reserve education systems.

Canadians will also be allowed to take beer and spirits across provincial boundaries for personal use, something that’s currently prohibited under the federal Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act.

Highlights from the throne speech:

– 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 cell phone 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.