Throne speech has flash, no substance: Hyer

A local MP says Wednesday’s throne speech was pretty but lacked substance.

Bruce Hyer (NDP, Thunder Bay – Superior North) said the 6,000-word speech was full of lofty and vague language that offered little for Northwestern Ontario. While he admits throne speeches are political and general in nature, the area MP said the speech outlined a direction he and most Canadians don’t want to be going in.

"What we really need is stimulus for job creation for average Canadians," Hyer said, adding that 1.5 million Canadians are still unemployed.

Read by Governor General Michaelle Jean, the speech stated that the federal government needs to lead by example and freeze wages for the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, MPs and Senate members. Hyer said the freeze is the only part of the speech he agreed with.
Members of Parliament make $157,731 and the Prime Minister makes $315,462 every year.

"We should probably be given pay cuts," Hyer said. "What’s happening to the average Canadian here is horrible."

Hyer, the NDP’s small business critic, said the speech also proposed further tax cuts for large corporations and made no mention of small businesses. He said Harper isn’t representing most Canadians with his government’s intentions.

"I think Stephen (Harper) works for big oil, big banks and foreign investors," Hyer said. "I’m sorry to say that but I believe it to be true."

He added that the specifics of the Conservative government’s plan will come with Thursday’s budget speech at 4 p.m. Hyer said he hopes he’ll be surprised by the budget but remains sceptical that Northwestern Ontario will benefit.

MP Greg Rickford (Con, Kenora) was contacted but could not immediately provide comment about the government’s throne speech.