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Calgary Herald

John Ivison: Liberals finally manage a serious throne speech, free of Trudeau's divisive virtue-signalling

There is an inherent absurdity to the speech from the throne, where the monarch, or his representative, recites a prepared text written by an anonymous partisan (although, such is the current ubiquity of the prime minister it would be no surprise if the author was one M. Carney). Article content King Charles made a decent effort at putting his own spin on things by pointing out that he has made 20 visits to Canada over the past 50 years but this was his first as the sovereign. Article content Article content With the limited amount of daylight allowed to alight on the magic of the monarchy, it is hard to tell, but the King and Queen Camilla appeared genuinely pleased to be in Ottawa. Charles was certainly more engaged than his late father, who on the 1969 inauguration of an annex to Vancouver City Hall, once said: 'I declare this thing open — whatever it is'. Article content Article content Lexicologists poring over the speech in the hope of finding a blunt rebuttal to President Donald Trump's ambitions of making Canada the 51st state were destined to be disappointed. Fears from unnamed British ministers quoted by The Times that Canada would drag the monarch into an unsightly spat with the president proved groundless. Article content The King concluded by saying his visit had reminded him that 'the True North is indeed strong and free,' reinforcing the message to the White House that Canada is not for sale. Article content Article content But the speech did not go beyond the language used by Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals during and since the recent election campaign. Article content Article content The system of open trade and relations with partners are changing, the King said, reading the government's speech. 'We must be clear-eyed — the world is more dangerous and uncertain than at any point since the Second World War.' Article content Canadians are anxious and worried but the moment creates an opportunity for renewal 'to think big and act bigger.' Article content 'A confident Canada can seize this opportunity and give ourselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away.' Article content The King said the prime minister and the U.S. president are defining a new economic and security relationship 'rooted in mutual respect and founded in common interest to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.'