Sitting 2 — May 27, 2025

The sitting was dominated by the ceremonial opening of the 45th Parliament with the Speech from the Throne, delivered by King Charles III, and the first day of debate on the address in reply. The central political argument was between the Liberal government’s call for a united, transformative economic agenda and Conservative and Bloc Québécois criticisms that the throne speech lacked concrete commitments, particularly on energy policy, regional interests, and affordability.

The Speech from the Throne set out the government’s agenda, emphasizing a need for national unity and economic transformation in response to global instability, a changing relationship with the United States, and the need to build new alliances. It promised middle-class tax cuts, GST relief for first-time homebuyers, faster project approvals, and the removal of internal trade barriers. The motion to take the speech into consideration later that day was agreed to without debate.

The Minister of Finance tabled a notice of ways and means motion, stating it would cut taxes and put more money in Canadians’ pockets. No bill number was cited in the transcript for this motion.

The government moved to have business of supply considered at the next sitting, and then secured unanimous consent for a motion temporarily altering the standing orders for the current supply period ending June 23, 2025. The motion replaced the usual estimates process with a committee-of-the-whole model, allowing four designated days for questions to ministers, with strict time limits and no quorum calls or dilatory motions. The main estimates for 2025-26 were tabled.

In the address-in-reply debate, Liberal members Corey Hogan and Madeleine Chenette defended the throne speech, highlighting tax cuts, housing measures, and the goal of creating a single Canadian economy. Conservative members Billy Morin, Carol Anstey, Gabriel Hardy, and Kathy Borrelli criticized the speech for lacking detail, ignoring Western and Newfoundland energy interests, failing to commit to repealing anti-energy laws (Bill C-69, Bill C-48, and the oil and gas production cap), and keeping the industrial carbon tax. Bloc Québécois members Alexis Deschênes and Patrick Bonin argued the speech ignored Quebec’s forestry, aluminum, and fishery sectors, and opposed new pipelines and the end of federal carbon pricing. NDP member Jenny Kwan noted the speech lacked measures for renters and social housing. The Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Scheer, moved to adjourn debate, accusing the Prime Minister of copying Conservative policies and failing to deliver results. The government House leader then moved to adjourn the House, which was agreed to.

Oral Questions did not occur as a separate item; the exchanges during the address-in-reply debate served as the main forum for opposition questions. The recurring themes were the lack of concrete commitments in the throne speech, the need to repeal Liberal energy laws, the impact of the industrial carbon tax on competitiveness, and the absence of measures for Quebec and renters. Government members responded by emphasizing the speech’s broad vision, the new government’s agenda, and the need for collaboration.

Routine Proceedings included the tabling of the “Report on Federal Tax Expenditures” for 2025 by the President of the Treasury Board. A point of order was raised by Elizabeth May about excessive heckling, but no decision was recorded. No petitions or other procedural motions were decided.