Canada’s new government will survive for now

Significance

Parliament elected a new speaker and the governor general delivered the government’s traditional throne speech, which sets out its legislative priorities. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals have been returned to parliament by voters as a minority administration after federal elections in October.

Impacts

• Opposition parties are likely to give Trudeau a couple of years in office before pursuing a no-confidence motion.
• The Trans Mountain pipeline will be built and eventually transferred to indigenous ownership and control.
• Additional policing, tax and pensions powers will be devolved to Alberta and Saskatchewan, given separatist sentiment there.
• The Conservatives, the largest opposition party, could decide to change their leader in April 2020.
• Should the United States enact the USMCA trade deal, Canada’s parliament would pass it speedily.