Carney makes debut in Parliament with seats reflecting changed political map
Prime Minister Mark Carney took his seat in the House of Commons for the first time Monday as the work of the 45th Parliament began with the election of a new Speaker ahead of the highly anticipated Speech from the Throne laying out the Liberal government's priorities.
King Charles III will deliver the address from the Senate chamber on Tuesday morning in a reassertion of Canadian sovereignty at a time of geopolitical realignments. It's only the third time a monarch has opened a session of Parliament. Normally, it is carried out by the governor-general.
This session follows an election which returned a minority Liberal government for the third time in a row, though the makeup of the House of Commons is different from the last session.
With five more seats to account for population growth, it's tighter quarters for 343 MPs, and seat assignments in the chamber reveal a changed political map.
The Opposition Conservatives now occupy two dozen more seats – but missing is party leader Pierre Poilievre, who lost his own riding.
The New Democrats, once plentiful enough to form the Official Opposition, are now reduced to seven MPs tucked into the far corner of the chamber.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, whose party lost 11 seats, noted Monday he's also now much farther back from the Speaker and will have to speak up.
Meanwhile, on the front bench of Mr. Carney's new government is a mix of cabinet ministers from former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government and some new faces – including Mr. Carney.
Though he became prime minister upon winning Liberal leadership in March, he didn't have a seat until winning the riding of Nepean on April 28.
In Mr. Carney's maiden remarks Monday, delivered to welcome newly elected Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia, he referenced his rookie status.
'I have much to learn from the members of this great house,' he said. 'I will make mistakes. I have no doubt that you will call them out for good reason.'
The new Prime Minister got a taste of some of the cut-and-thrust of Parliament when Conservative Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer lightly ribbed his rivals.
Mr. Scheer noted some Liberal MPs may now vote for what they were recently voting against, a likely reference to Mr. Carney's cancellation of the consumer carbon price, once a marquee Liberal policy.
Mr. Carney didn't laugh at the joke.
He has promised to govern with seriousness and speed, and what that looks like is expected to be outlined on Tuesday.
In a statement marking the King's arrival in Canada, Mr. Carney said the Speech from the Throne will reflect a government elected 'to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States, to build the strongest economy in the G7, to bring down the cost of living, and to keep communities safe.'
Opinion: The arrival of King Charles is a powerful and symbolic reminder of Canada's sovereignty
The government is expected to move ahead quickly on two particular items: a personal tax cut and removing barriers to interprovincial trade. Later this week, Mr. Carney will travel to Saskatoon ahead of a meeting with provincial premiers and territorial leaders June 2.
He is governing with a minority: The Liberals have 169 seats to the Conservatives' 144, the Bloc's 22 and the NDP's seven. The Greens hold one.
To pass legislation, Mr. Carney will need other parties on side.
Interim NDP leader Don Davies told reporters Monday that despite his party's reduced size, it has power.
'I think that there's, as in every minority Parliament, a real opportunity for us to push and promote progressive policies and hold this government to account in a way that you can't do in a majority Parliament,' he said.
The Conservatives said Sunday their party is prepared to support the government to find ways to end the trade dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump and speed up natural resource development, but will also oppose the Liberals where necessary.
'When we act as a government in waiting, we do it to provide the hope that things can and will get better,' Mr. Poilievre said.
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