Speech from the Throne (Part B): SFT was delivered by the Governor General Oct 16, 2013

Here is a news article from the National Post a few minutes ago .....

Tories vow to freeze budget, shrink government and ‘defend’ consumers in 2013 throne speech

OTTAWA – Canadian families and consumers, take heart: Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s governing Conservatives have declared they are your best friend.

And for those Canadians unhappy with how the Tories put the country deep into deficit in recent years, Harper has a pledge.

He will introduce balanced-budget legislation that requires governments to stay in the black during “normal economic times,” and “concrete timelines” for eliminating a deficit after an “economic crisis.”

The messages came Wednesday in the throne speech, read in Parliament by Gov. Gen. David Johnston.

Full text of the Speech from the Throne, Oct. 16, 2013

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH FROM THE THRONE

After nearly eight years in power, Harper’s Tories now promise a range of actions, including: letting cable TV customers pick the channel of their choice to pay for; slashing roaming costs for cellphone customers; forbidding companies from making customers pay extra for paper bills instead of electronic ones; and even amending the law to allow Canadians to taker beer and spirits across provincial boundaries for their own use.

“Canadian families work hard to make ends meet, and every dollar counts. While companies will look out for their bottom line, our Government is looking out for everyday Canadians,” says the speech.

“When Canadians make decisions about how to spend their money, they must be assured of a voice, a choice, and fair treatment.

“Although Canadians are among the most digitally connected in the world, we also pay some of the highest wireless rates in the developed world. As families know – especially families with teenagers – the monthly bills add up.”

The throne speech comes midway through the government’s majority mandate and after months of bad publicity, such as the Senate expense scandal that reached right into the prime minister’s office.

........ (to be continued) Speech from the Throne (Part C)

Photo credit: Government of Canada / Speech from the Throne Oct 16, 2013

Source of news article: National Post