Trudeau Liberals to lay out plans in throne speech

The Trudeau government will lay out the agenda for its first session of Parliament this afternoon when Governor General David Johnston reads the speech from the throne.

One of the key themes is expected to be reconciliation with Canada’s aboriginal peoples. Prime Minister Trudeau has said he will address a special meeting of chiefs on Tuesday that is being hosted by the Assembly of First Nations.

The throne speech will also touch on the Liberals’ promise to raise taxes on Canada’s biggest breadwinners, while easing the burden on middle-income earnings.

Yesterday, the House of Commons elected Liberal MP Geoff Regan its Speaker.

The 56-year-old MP for Halifax West says he will expect members to conduct themselves in a way that respects the sacrifices made for Canada by its war dead.

Regan’s father was a Nova Scotia premier and federal cabinet minister — and his wife, Kelly is a member of the provincial legislature.

Parliament is expected to sit for about a week and then rise until late January.