OTTAWA (AFP) — Lawmakers must bolster Canada's slowing economy in the coming year by helping its auto sector, signing new trade pacts and boosting energy output, the government said Wednesday.
In a throne speech read by Governor General Michaelle Jean that lays out the government's agenda for this parliamentary session, the government said it would use Canada's experience "in developing a strong model of financial regulation to help lead the world in the repair and strengthening of the international financial system."
The government, said Jean, would avoid "structural" budget deficits; provide "further support" for Canada's automotive and aerospace industries; push for a national securities regulator to replace the patchwork of provincial regulators; and modernize Canada's copyright laws -- all in a bid to strengthen Canada's economy and competitive advantage.
On the international stage, Ottawa indicated it hopes to sign new trade agreements and ratify trade pacts currently being negotiated with the European Free Trade Association, Peru, Colombia and Jordan.
As well, it aims to partner with Washington to develop a North America-wide cap and trade system for greenhouse gases.
In the speech, the government also pledged to invest in new scientific research facilities; encourage new nuclear power projects and build a pipeline to Canada's natural gas reserves in the far north; as well as renew all of Canada's major air, sea and surface fleets over the next two decades.
"In these uncertain economic times, it is more important than ever that our spirit of solidarity prevails and reaches beyond our borders," Jean said, signaling the government's intention to work closely with opposition parties, its provincial counterparts and its international allies to shore up the world economy.
"As one of our greatest hockey legends has observed, we need 'to skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been,'" she added.
Parliament is expected to vote in support of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's legislative agenda no later than November 27 -- even though all three opposition leaders expressed disdain for it -- to avoid snap elections.
But this does not commit opposition parties to also have to vote for the actual individual bills, as they are rolled out.
Harper's minority Conservatives won re-election on October 14 in Canada's third election in four years, but to stay in power they must have the support of at least one of Canada's opposition parties.
The government had said consultations with opposition leaders on the agenda were "constructive."
But Jack Layton, leader of the New Democrats, told reporters the speech lacked "bold action."
"We have an unprecedented crisis here, and Canadians are really hurting, worried about their jobs, pensions, savings, and so on," he said. "I think Canadians were hoping for more. We certainly expected more."
Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe echoed Layton in saying his party would not support the government's agenda.
But Stephane Dion, leader of the main opposition Liberals, with enough votes to carry Harper, said: "We're not going to oppose it."
"We believe this government has been managing the economy poorly," Dion explained. "But, it would be completely irresponsible to have an election now."
Canada's economy is predicted to drop to near zero growth next year, but the nation is also expected to be alone among the Group of Seven industrialized nations to avoid a recession.
Harper has said Canada would post its 12th consecutive budget surplus in March, but may face a possible deficit in fiscal 2009-2010 to pay for the global economic stimulus agreed to at a recent G20 summit in Washington.
It would be a blip, not a structural deficit, his aide added.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, meanwhile, is expected to unveil an interim fiscal update to clarify Canada's current position no later than December 20.
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