King Charles delivered Canada’s speech from the Throne in the Senate Chamber, highlighting the economy, sovereignty and the changing world around us.
The speech, which highlighted Prime Minister Mark Carney’s goals for the next parliamentary session, is typically read by the Governor General. King Charles is the first monarch to read the speech since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did so in 1977.
King Charles noted the system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing. Canada’s relationships with partners are also changing.
While change may be unsettling, he said, there is an opportunity for Canada to embark on the largest transformation of its economy since the Second World War.
Amid ongoing tensions with the United States, the speech highlights that the prime minister and U.S. president are establishing a renewed economic and security partnership based on shared interests and mutual respect to benefit both nations. At the same time, Canada is deepening ties with trusted global partners, highlighting its valuable resources and respected values.
Highlights from the speech include:
- Building the strongest economy in the G7, the government’s overarching goal.
- Introducing legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility by Canada Day.
- Building a stronger Canada by working closely with provinces, territories and Indigenous Peoples to identify and catalyse projects of national significance. Projects that will connect Canada, that will deepen Canada’s ties with the world and that will create high-paying jobs for generations.
- Creating a new Major Federal Project Office, which aims to reduce the time needed to approve a project from five years to two, while upholding Canada’s world-leading environmental standards and its constitutional obligations to Indigenous Peoples.
- Striking co-operation agreements with every interested province and territory within six months to realize its goal of “one project, one review.”
Read the full speech.
