Read and watch the full speech from the throne

Verbatim prepared text of the throne speech, "Making real change happen," to open the first session of the 42nd Parliament of Canada, Dec. 4, 2015:

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Honourable Senators,

Members of the House of Commons,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

As the representative of Her Majesty The Queen, I am pleased to be here to deliver the Speech from the Throne.

A warm welcome to those of you who are returning to your duties as parliamentarians, including those who are returning after an absence. Know that your experience is valued.

Welcome also to the 197 members who are newly elected. Your enthusiasm and fresh ideas will serve your country well.

J'invite tous les parlementaires travailler ensemble dans un nouvel esprit d'innovation, d'ouverture et de collaboration.

En tant que gouverneur gnral, j'ai moi-mme vu combien le Canada est un grand pays, d'un ocan l'autre.

Je sais aussi qu'il peut tre meilleur.

Comment?

By being smart, and caringon a scale as never before.

The times we live in demand nothing less.

Canada succeeds in large part because here, diverse perspectives and different opinions are celebrated, not silenced.

Parliament shall be no exception.

In this Parliament, all members will be honoured, respected and heard, wherever they sit. For here, in these chambers, the voices of all Canadians matter.

N'oublions pas toutefois que les Canadiens et Canadiennes ont clairement indiqu qu'ils souhaitaient un rel changement. Ils veulent que leur gouvernement fasse diffrentes choses, et ce, diffremment.

Ils veulent pouvoir faire confiance leur gouvernement.

En outre, ils veulent un leadership ax sur ce qui est le plus important pour eux.

Par exemple, des mesures qui favorisent la croissance conomique, crent des emplois, renforcent la classe moyenne et aident ceux et celles qui travaillent fort pour en faire partie.

En coutant attentivement et en se comportant de faon respectueuse, le gouvernement peut relever ces dfis et tous les autres qui se prsenteront lui.

En concertant ses efforts au service de tous les Canadiens et Canadiennes, le gouvernement peut apporter de vrais changements.

Et voici comment il s'y prendra.

Watch Greg Peters the Usher of the Black Rod summon MPs to the Senate to hear the Throne Speech

9 years ago

Duration 4:40

Watch Greg Peters the Usher of the Black Rod summon MPs to the Senate to hear the Throne Speech

First and foremost, the Government believes that all Canadians should have a real and fair chance to succeed. Central to that success is a strong and growing middle class.

The Government will, as an immediate priority, deliver a tax cut for the middle class.

This is the fair thing to do, and the smart thing to do for Canada's economy.

The Government has also committed to provide more direct help to those who need it by giving less to those who do not. The new Canada Child Benefit will do just that.

And recognizing that public investment is needed to create and support economic growth, job creation and economic prosperity, the Government will make significant new investments in public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure.

To give Canadians a more secure retirement, the Government will work with the provinces and territories to enhance the Canada Pension Plan.

The Employment Insurance system will be strengthened to make sure that it best serves both the Canadian economy and all Canadians who need it.

To create more opportunities for young Canadians, especially those from low- and middle-income families, the Government will work with the provinces and territories to make post-secondary education more affordable.

And to support the health and well-being of all Canadians, the Government will begin work with the provinces and territories to develop a new Health Accord.

The Government will undertake these and other initiatives while pursuing a fiscal plan that is responsible, transparent and suited to challenging economic times.

Deuximement, le gouvernement s'engage tre ouvert et transparent.

La confiance des Canadiens et Canadiennes l'gard des institutions publiques y compris le Parlement a parfois t brise. En faisant preuve de plus d'ouverture et de transparence, le Parlement peut rtablir cette confiance.

Pour veiller ce que chaque vote compte, le gouvernement mnera des consultations sur la rforme lectorale, puis fera en sorte que l'lection de 2015 aura t la dernire tre mene selon le systme lectoral majoritaire un tour.

Pour rtablir la confiance de la population et mettre fin la partisanerie, le gouvernement respectera son engagement concernant la rforme du Snat en mettant sur pied un nouveau processus non partisan et fond sur le mrite afin de conseiller le premier ministre concernant les nominations au Snat.

Et pour que les Canadiens et Canadiennes se fassent mieux entendre la Chambre des communes, il favorisera la tenue de dbats ouverts et le recours au vote libre. En outre, il rformera et renforcera les comits.

Il faut galement souligner ce que le gouvernement ne fera pas : il n'utilisera pas les publicits du gouvernement des fins partisanes, il n'entravera pas le travail des agents parlementaires, et il n'aura pas recours des mcanismes tels que la prorogation et les projets de loi omnibus pour viter les examens minutieux.

Third, the Government will prove to Canadians and to the world that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand in hand. We cannot have one without the other.

Protecting the environment and growing the economy are not incompatible goals; in fact, our future success demands that we do both.

Last week, first ministers met ahead of the international climate change talksa first step in an important and ongoing process.

Working together, the Government will continue to provide leadership as Canada works toward putting a price on carbon and reducing carbon pollution.

To encourage economic growth, the Government will make strategic investments in clean technology, provide more support for companies seeking to export those technologies, and lead by example in their use.

And as part of efforts to restore public trust, the Government will introduce new environmental assessment processes.

Public input will be sought and considered. Environmental impacts will be understood and minimized. Decisions will be informed by scientific evidence. And Indigenous peoples will be more fully engaged in reviewing and monitoring major resource development projects.

Quatrimement, le programme du gouvernement tient compte de la diversit qui fait la force du Canada.

Les Canadiens et Canadiennes ont lu un gouvernement qui nous rassemblera, et non qui nous opposera les uns aux autres. Le Canada est fort, non pas malgr nos diffrences, mais grce elles.

La force du Canada rside entre autres dans nos expriences communes, dans la diversit qui inspire notre pays et le monde, et dans la faon dont nous nous traitons mutuellement.

Parce qu'il s'agit de la bonne marche suivre et aussi d'une faon de stimuler la croissance conomique, le gouvernement rtablira la relation de nation nation entre le Canada et les peuples autochtones, une relation fonde sur la reconnaissance des droits, le respect, la coopration et le partenariat.

Entre autres mesures, le gouvernement collaborera la mise en uvre de recommandations de la Commission de vrit et rconciliation du Canada, lancera une enqute sur les femmes et les filles autochtones disparues et assassines, et travaillera avec les Premires Nations afin que chaque enfant d'une Premire Nation reoive une ducation de qualit.

Le gouvernement facilitera le processus permettant aux immigrants de s'tablir et de russir au Canada, d'tre runis avec leur famille et de contribuer au succs conomique de l'ensemble des citoyens canadiens.

En rponse au besoin urgent qui se fait sentir l'chelle internationale, et en se fondant sur le dsir d'aider qu'expriment les Canadiens et Canadiennes, le gouvernement accueillera 25 000 nouveaux citoyens en provenance de la Syrie d'ici la fin fvrier 2016.

En reconnaissance des services rendus par les anciens combattants du Canada, le gouvernement dploiera davantage d'efforts pour les aider ainsi que leur famille.

Le gouvernement appuiera la socit CBC/Radio-Canada, encouragera l'utilisation des langues officielles du pays, et investira dans les industries culturelles et cratives canadiennes.

Fifth, the Government is committed to providing greater security and opportunity for Canadians.

Canadians are open, accepting, and generous people. We know that helping those in need strengthens our communities and makes them safer, more prosperous places to live.

The Government will strengthen its relationship with allies, especially with our closest friend and partner, the United States.

Internationally, the Government will focus its development assistance on helping the world's poorest and most vulnerable.

To contribute to greater peace throughout the world, the Government will renew Canada's commitment to United Nations peacekeeping operations, and will continue to work with its allies in the fight against terrorism.

To keep Canadians safe and be ready to respond when needed, the Government will launch an open and transparent process to review existing defence capabilities, and will invest in building a leaner, more agile, better-equipped military.

And to expand economic opportunities for all Canadians, the Government will negotiate beneficial trade agreements, and pursue other opportunities with emerging markets.

Recognizing that Canada is, fundamentally, a safe and peaceful country, the Government will continue to work to keep all Canadians safe, while at the same time protecting our cherished rights and freedoms.

Throne Speech mentions security assault weapons legalizing and restricting marijuana

9 years ago

Duration 1:47

Governor General David Johnston delivered the 15 minute speech in the Senate Friday afternoon

To that end, the Government will introduce legislation that will provide greater support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; that will get handguns and assault weapons off our streets; and that will legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana.

Le programme prsent aujourd'hui est certes ambitieux, mais il n'a pas t labor en vase clos.

Il s'agit plutt du fruit de conversations avec les Canadiens et Canadiennes, lesquels ont clairement et franchement indiqu au gouvernement ce dont ils ont besoin pour russir.

Les Canadiens et Canadiennes sont des gens confiants. Nous nous connaissons et savons dans quel pays nous souhaitons vivre.

We know the greatness that Canada is capable of, and we know that our success is not only about doing well for ourselves, but also about leaving an even better, more peaceful and prosperous world for our children.

As you consider the important work that lies ahead, remember that Canadians have placed their trust in you. It is now your sacred responsibility to help build that better world.

By focusing on growing our middle class, on delivering open and transparent government, on ensuring a clean environment and a strong economy, on building a stronger Canada, and on providing greater security and opportunity, the Government will make real change happen.

It will prove that better is not only possible it is the inevitable result when Canadians work together.

Mesdames et Messieurs les Dputs, vous serez appels voter les crdits ncessaires au financement des services et des dpenses approuvs par le Parlement.

Honourable Members of the Senate and Members of the House of Commons, may Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations and make you faithful custodians of the trust bestowed upon you.