{"id":42556,"date":"2020-09-23T14:04:54","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T18:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=42556"},"modified":"2021-12-06T06:25:40","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T11:25:40","slug":"throne-speech-meh-or-yay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/42556\/throne-speech-meh-or-yay\/","title":{"rendered":"Throne Speech: meh or yay?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our scorecard tells you whether or not the government\u2019s plans will curb inequality and fix the climate crisis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

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The federal government delivered it\u2019s Speech from the Throne on September 23rd, a formal address that opens a new session of Parliament and outlines the government\u2019s plans and priorities. <\/p>\n\n

This year\u2019s speech was one of the most hotly anticipated \u2014 and we\u2019re here to tell you if it made the grade. <\/strong>The speech was so important because so many lives are on the line as we navigate a rising number of covid-19 cases and an economic recession that has hit women, racialized people and low-income households the hardest. The plans outlined in the speech will directly shape our future.<\/p>\n\n

On top of it all, climate change and the collapse of biodiversity haven\u2019t stopped impacting our daily lives. Wildfires are getting worse and their toxic smoke knows no borders. Major floods and storms are getting more frequent and insurance costs are going up. Researchers have linked 31% of the outbreaks<\/a> of emerging infectious diseases to forest and ecosystem destruction. <\/p>\n\n

We asked for the Speech from the Throne to put forward a plan for the multi-layered crisis we\u2019re facing. <\/strong>Moments of crisis can open up whole avenues of possibility that were once considered unthinkable. So, Prime Minister Trudeau\u2019s Liberals have a chance to think big and think bold in order to start fixing our society\u2019s problems at their roots. In fact, we gave them a roadmap<\/a> for doing just that, while building a strong, sustainable and fair economy \u2014 we even wrote it down in our version of what the Throne Speech<\/a> could look like. <\/p>\n\n

How did the Liberals\u2019 promises stack up against what Greenpeace wanted to see? Read on and find out.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Overall impressions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

The Liberals’ 2020 Speech from the Throne was one of the most ambitious and progressive seen in years \u2014 but these ambitions are empty without concrete actions to turn them into reality. We\u2019d give the Liberals better-than-usual marks for this year\u2019s Throne Speech, but the proof will be in the pudding (which, in this case, are the upcoming ministerial mandate letters and fall economic update). With many policies we tried to evaluate, there simply weren\u2019t enough details to tell whether or not the Liberals\u2019 plans truly made the grade…even if the promises sounded pretty.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\n The good, the bad & the ugly: how did the promises made in the #ThroneSpeech<\/span> stack up against what concrete actions must be taken to achieve a green & #JustRecovery<\/span>?\n\n@GreenpeaceCA<\/span> breaks it down with these scorecards:https:\/\/act.gp\/32WhqFx<\/span>\n\n#cdnpoli<\/span> #GreenRecovery<\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n
\n Tweet<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n Will the words in the #ThroneSpeech<\/span> translate into concrete action to make a Green #JustRecovery<\/span> a reality?\n@GreenpeaceCA<\/span>‘s scorecard give you the good, bad & ugly?#cdnpoli<\/span>\npic.twitter.com\/Ig04adNzSy pic.twitter.com\/mVU1zSR8Id pic.twitter.com\/N6tU7i2iBw\n\n>https:\/\/act.gp\/32YD6Rm<\/span>\n\n<\/div>\n
\n Tweet<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n

Legend: Was it in the speech?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

<\/td>Yup. This is progress in the right direction.<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>Kind of, but not completely; or, not enough detail given to evaluate properly.<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>Nope. This was either missing altogether or steps backward were made.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Transform social safety nets<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace Canada recommendation<\/strong><\/td>In the speech?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Living wage and universal basic income.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
National childcare program.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
National pharmacare program.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
National sick leave.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Safe employment conditions for care workers.<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Safeguard the environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace Canada recommendation<\/strong><\/td>In the speech?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Strategy to decarbonize the economy by 2040.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Plans to protect 30% of lands, oceans and freshwaters by 2030. <\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Expand electric transit, cycling and walking infrastructure.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Help transition automakers to EVs by 2030.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Jobs in emergency efficiency and low-carbon housing for vulnerable communities.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Nature-based jobs that rebuild vital, degraded ecosystems.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Jobs in community-based farming and regenerative agriculture.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Take steps to build a circular economy by supporting zero-waste innovation and implementing the ban on single-use plastics.<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Justice for women, Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace Canada recommendation<\/strong><\/td>In the speech?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Address the \u201cshe-cession\u201d and ensure equal pay and safe employment conditions for all women.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Respect Indigenous rights, act on reconciliation, ensure justice for MMIW and guarantee clean water and good housing.<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
Defund the RCMP and invest in mental health for racialized people. <\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
Citizenship and fair employment conditions for migrant workers.<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

How would we pay for it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace Canada recommendation<\/strong><\/td>In the speech?<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Implement a wealth tax.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Ban the use of tax havens.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
End fossil fuels subsidies.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Cancel construction of the TMX pipeline.<\/td><\/td><\/tr>
Make big polluters pay their fair share to stop climate change.<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Here\u2019s a quick look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from the 2020 Throne Speech.<\/h2>\n\n

The Good: Steps forward on a green and just recovery <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n