Martin expands on Throne Speech

By DARREN YOURK
Globe and Mail Update

Prime Minister Paul Martin used his first speech to the House of Commons to
announce that his government will accelerate payments for the
implementation of a national child-care program and trumpet his so-called
new deal for municipalities.

With two fourth graders from the elementary school that got the Prime
Minister involved in the "Flat Mark" program watching from the
gallery, Mr. Martin said that providing a solid foundation for the future
education of Canadian children is among the finest commitments government
can make. "Readiness to learn is shaped at the earliest stages of
childhood", Mr. Martin said. "That is why early childhood
development is a national priority. That is why we will accelerate the
implementation of the federal-provincial agreement on early learning and
care".

Provincial and territorial governments were given free rein in March to
spend $900-million of federal child-care money aimed at reducing the burden
of working parents with young children. Critics said the funding would do
little to create more daycare spaces because the money was scheduled to
trickle down in the first couple of years of the five-year plan 
$25-million nationwide in the first year, followed by $75-million in the
second year, $150-million in the third, $300-million in the fourth and
$350-million in the fifth.

Mr. Martin did not provide further specifics Tuesday on how the new cash
will be doled out. He also announced a government plan to develop a new
"learning bond" for every child born to low-income families.
"Building on the Canada Education Savings Grant, we will provide a
starter grant, a new incentive, to encourage savings for post-secondary
education", Mr. Martin said. "Over time, the value of the
'learning bond' will grow. And over time, the government's contribution
will be increased as well, as resources permit".

The Prime Minister also expanded on the big-ticket item from Monday's
Throne Speech  a $580-million-a-year tax break for cities that will exempt
them from the GST. The government announced Tuesday that the rebate, which
the government estimates is worth $7-billion over the next decade, came
into effect Feb. 1. "Recently, some have questioned the depth of our
commitment wondered whether we would match rhetoric with results", Mr.
Martin said Tuesday. "Well, we have answered those questions. The New
Deal is a real deal".

The Throne Speech also committed the government to working with provinces
to share a portion of gasoline tax revenue with municipalities or to hammer
out a different plan that would provide similar funds. "This new deal
is not just about money", Mr. Martin said. "It is about engaging
municipalities as partners. So too, it is about engaging and building on
local initiatives".

Tuesday's speech also confirmed that the proposed legislation to provide
anti-HIV/AIDS drugs at low cost to African countries will go ahead. "I
am pleased to advise the House that we will proceed with this
legislation", Mr. Martin said. "And in recognition of the former
prime minister's efforts, it will now be titled The Jean Chrtien Pledge to
Africa Act".

Mr. Martin also spoke on Canada/U.S. relations, saying his meetings with
Mr. Bush at the recent Monterrey Summit was the first step toward a new
relationship the U.S. "Our government is committed to a more
sophisticated approach, not only to manage our shared objectives, but also
to manage difficult issues, such as BSE and softwood lumber, which have
exacted a troubling toll right across Canada", Mr. Martin said.
"We want to buttress our mutual understanding by having greater
parliamentary engagement with members of the United States Congress;
greater engagement between Canadian officials and their counterparts;
between representatives of our provinces and territories and their states;
and between mayors".

The Opposition parties also stood and delivered their official responses to
Monday's Throne Speech, with interim Conservative Party Leader Grant Hill
calling the speech no more than an election pamphlet for the Liberal Party
of Canada.

"Canadians remember well the election document  the so-called `Red
Book' that was written by the current prime minister", Dr. Hill said.
"They remember his promises to scrap the GST, to renegotiate NAFTA, to
create an independent ethics counsellor, to name but three. So I don't
think they're expecting the government to actually keep any of the promises
they make. Liberal election documents have a very short shelf life. And
with good reason".

Dr. Hill also questioned how the new deal for municipalities would improve
the lives of all Canadians. "My question is: Why should we limit
ourselves to Canada's large metropolitan areas?" Dr. Hill said.
"Yes, they are home to a large portion of our population. Yes, their
municipal infrastructure is in a desperate state of disrepair. Yes, they
are the engines that drive our economy. But if cities are our economic
engines, then it's the farmers, fishermen and forestry workers who provide
the fuel. We on this side believe there must be a new deal for Truro, not
just Toronto; for Vulcan, Alberta, not just Vancouver; and Mont-Joli, not
just Montreal".

New Democratic Party house leader Bill Blaikie dismissed suggestions that
Mr. Martin had unveiled a more socially-conscious agenda with the Throne
Speech, calling it `fake left'. "We see through it and we think many
other Canadians will see through it as well," Mr. Blaikie said.


--- GoldED/W32 3.0.1