King Opens Canada’s 69th Parliament: New Era, Clear Mandate, Can Ottawa Deliver?

Canada’s 69th Parliament was formally opened Saturday in a regal ceremony marked by political clarity and a thunderous absence. His Majesty King Alexander delivered the Speech from the Throne in the Senate chamber, outlining the new Conservative-NDP coalition government’s legislative agenda — a sweeping, reform-heavy vision for restoring public trust and institutional strength after months of dysfunction.

The speech, authored by Prime Minister Jacob H. Webster’s government, passed in the House of Commons by a vote of 12–2, with minimal Liberal presence. Their near-total absence from the opposition benches underscored how far Canada’s once-dominant party has fallen since the July election — and how much political ground the new government has to itself, for now.

State Opening of Parliament of the First Webster Ministry by King Alexander 7/26/2025

What’s In the Speech?

The Throne Speech was dense and ambitious, covering nearly every corner of Canadian governance. Some highlights:

Public Safety Overhaul

• RCMP Reform: The government will amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act to allow ministerial intervention, curbing what it calls "unchecked autonomy" and administrative stagnation in senior ranks.

• Cadet & Officer Clarity: Changes will define peace officer roles and reduce red tape in hiring and training.

• Firearms Reform: The government plans to legalize responsible handgun ownership for licensed Canadians, revising the National Firearms and Weapons Act.

Justice & Legal System

• A complete overhaul of the Criminal Code will be tabled, repealing the existing framework in favor of proportional, summary sentencing more attuned to current realities.

• Sweeping judiciary reform will structure courts, redefine the Department of Justice’s role, and empower the Legal Society of Canada.

• Incentives will be introduced to encourage more Canadians to pass the bar and become barristers.

• The RCMP will be required to report certain offences directly to the Public Prosecutions Service of Canada.

Media & Information Policy

• New laws will combat demagoguery and disinformation, while easing the path for domestic and international media to operate in Canada.

• An independent oversight panel will be created to monitor press quality and enforce these new rules.

• CBC reform is also promised — with staffing increases and structural changes to restore trust in the national broadcaster.

Labour & Employment

• The government will reintroduce the Employment Rights Act to guarantee workplace protections.

• A new Labour Rights Act will provide a structured system for enforcing employee rights and employer accountability.

• A review of the Jobcenter, created last year, is also on the table.

• A national Jobs Fair in Simcoe County is being planned, with invitations extended to Commonwealth and UN-linked businesses.

Language, Identity & Public Service

• Legislation will mandate the use of both official languages in all federal correspondence and services.

• Canada’s identity and cultural values will be promoted domestically and abroad.

• The government promises to rebuild the public service, focusing on performance, reliability, and pride. It also plans to expand access to civil service careers.

Budgeting, Governance, and Global Positioning

• A cross-party committee will be formed to draft a long-term budget framework, though the speech acknowledges that work may stretch past this Parliament.

• A constitutional amendment is planned to define how budgets and votes are handled in the House.

• Canada will also join the Joint Commonwealth Business Agreement to improve international commerce.

• Finally, the government pledged to expand diplomatic relations and work to solidify its influence on the world stage.

  
  

  

  A Shift in Tone — and Power

  The Throne Speech marks the first major milestone of the new coalition between the Conservatives (10 seats) and NDP (3 seats). Together, they hold a working majority of 13 seats, enabling swift legislative progress — at least on paper.

  Absent from Saturday’s proceedings were most Liberal MPs. Their no-show during the critical opening session left observers wondering if the party was regrouping in silence, or simply too demoralized to show up. The former governing party gained just five seats in the July election under new leader NocturalVeda, whose underwhelming campaign failed to revive public confidence.

  Opinion: A Real Plan, or Rhetoric in Uniform?

  There is no question: the throne speech is packed. The volume of proposed reforms, legislative reboots, and institutional shakeups is staggering. But the real question is execution.

  This government has a golden opportunity — no immediate opposition threat, a functioning coalition, and a clear voter mandate to “clean house.” But the risk of overpromising looms large. From rewriting the Criminal Code to mandating bilingual governance, the ambitions here would challenge even the most seasoned administration.

  So far, though, the tone is serious. The goals are tangible. The priorities — security, jobs, justice — resonate. And Canadians, after months of political instability and bureaucratic gridlock, seem ready to believe in function again.

  What’s Next

  Parliament is expected to begin debate on enabling legislation related to the RCMP Act and firearms law within the next two weeks. Committee formation on the budget proposal will follow shortly after.

  The 69th Parliament has begun — not just with ceremony, but with substance. Whether that translates into real results will depend not just on government efficiency, but on whether this coalition can maintain unity and momentum as the heavy lifting begins.