Publishing Date
The Honourable Governor General Julie Payette delivered the federal Throne Speech on December 5th, which highlights the federal government’s priorities as Parliament prepares to resume following the October election. The Speech focuses largely on climate action and reconciliation.
Of particular interest to local governments, the Throne Speech commits to:
Climate Action
- Achieving net zero emissions by 2050
- Planting two billion trees
- Implementing carbon pricing across the country
Environment
- Protecting 25 percent of Canada’s land and 25 percent of Canada’s oceans by 2025.
- Continue efforts to reduce plastics
Reconciliation
- Introducing legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the first year of government
- Developing new legislation to ensure access to high quality, culturally relevant health care and mental health services by Indigenous peoples
- Working with Indigenous communities to close the infrastructure gap by 2030.
- Continue to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice
Housing
- Continue investments in affordable housing and measures to make it easier for people to buy their first home
Infrastructure
- Making investments in infrastructure and public transit
Community Safety
- Making it easier for people to get the help for opioid and substance abuse.
- Investing to help cities fight gang related violence