Prime Minister’s Justin Trudeau’s Throne Speech Thursday promised to impose a ban on “military-style-weapons” and give cities the power to ban handguns..Trudeau also promised to initiate a firearms buy-back program..“Year after year, headline after headline, Canadians have seen first hand the devastating effects of gun violence. Too many lives lost, too many families shattered. It is time to show courage and strengthen gun control,” Gov.-Gen. Julie Payette said as she read from the speech..The speech came as the 43rd session of Parliament opened after Trudeau won a minority government in October..The 28-minute speech laid out the government’s other plans including fighting carbon change and starting a new national Pharmacare program and even looking at a national dental program..Included were some of the programs the opposition parties have been asking for, including tax-free parental benefits and a crackdown on money laundering..“While your approaches may differ, you share the common belief that government should try, whenever possible, to make life better for Canadians,” said Payette..“Some believe that minority governments are incapable of getting things done. But Canada’s history tells us otherwise.”.The speech included a promise to try and help Alberta and Saskatchewan deal with depressed oil and gas prices and pipeline controversies..“Today’s regional economic concerns are both justified and important,” Payette said..The speech said the government is committed to getting resources to markets, a reference to the Trans Mountain expansion pipeline project that started Wednesday after years of delays..The government promised to defend its carbon tax while pushing ahead with a plan to render the country “net-zero” on emissions by 2050..In addition to planting two billion trees, the speech said the government would make energy efficient homes more affordable, subsidize zero-emission vehicles, develop cleaner sources of power and make Canada a sought-after destination for clean technology firms..The government also vowed to work harder on Indigenous issues acrosss the country..While the speech is written by Trudeau’s officials, Payette added some personal remarks to the speech..The former astronaut, said Canadians must work together because “we are inextricably bound to the same space-time continuum and on board the same planetary spaceship.”.Responding to the speech, Tory leader Andrew Scheer tweeted: “I am extremely disappointed by Trudeau’s Throne Speech. He has learned nothing from the last month and has taken no steps to unite our country. Conservatives will be here fighting every day for Canadians with everything we have.”.The Bloc Quebecois said they would support the Throne Speech..NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said the speech “wasn’t good enough.”.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter: Nobby7694
