A Throne Speech, a New Speaker and a Budget
Delivered During the First 3 Days of Parliament
Ottawa, ON (June 6, 2011) — Andrew Scheer, Member of Parliament for Regina-Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, was elected as the youngest ever speaker in the House of Commons after 6 rounds of voting. “Andrew is a most amiable and capable young person and he will do very well in his new position as Speaker of the House, I’m sure,” said Komarnicki, “and we can all expect excellent performance on his part.”
Mr. Scheer’s first order of business as the new Speaker of the House of the Commons was to preside over the Throne Speech and the post-election budget.
The Throne Speech and budget incorporated provisions from the March 2011 Budget and the relevant provisions made in the Campaign platform. “We said we would re-introduce the March 2011 budget if elected and we did. The key focus before, during and now after the election is on jobs and continued economic growth. We will also continue as we have in the past to support families and children. All of this is possible with a stable, predictable, low tax environment, a highly skilled and flexible workforce, support for innovation and new technologies and wider access to markets abroad.”
Some of the fundamental commitments made in the Throne Speech and Budget that most Canadians will be pleased with include:
- A return to a balanced budget by 2014/2015.
- Enhancing the Guaranteed Income Supplement by up to $600 for single seniors and up to $840 for senior couples per year.
- A new Family Caregiver Tax Credit for those who care for a dependant family member who is infirm.
- Forgiving up to $40,000 of student loans for new family physicians and up to $20,000 for nurse practitioners and nurses serving underserved rural and remote communities.
- Maintaining the six percent per year increase to the Canada Health Transfers while working with provincial partners to renew the Health Accord.
- A $3000 Volunteer Firefighter Tax Credit.
- An extension of the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program.
The Government also made a commitment to introduce legislation to:
- Combat human smuggling.
- Enact a comprehensive law and order program that will include measures to protect children from sex offenders.
- End the wasteful and ineffective long gun registry and ensure western farmers have the freedom to sell wheat and barley on the open market.
- Limit senate term benefits and encourage provinces and territories to hold elections for senate nominees.
- Take steps to phase out direct taxpayer subsidies to federal political parties over the next three years.
“All in all, I think it is a positive step forward that will move Canada in the right direction,” said Komarnicki. “The budget sets the stage for Canada’s future prosperity and a better future for all Canadians.”
