Speech from the throne: Part II

Tonight, Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean opened the 2nd Session of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The following is NOT a transcript, but my rather frenzied notes on the Throne Speech. A reminder for non-Canadians: this speech was written by our Conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.
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...Part II

The Arctic

• The Arctic requires new attention; sovereignty is challenged from "other shores"
• Guv will strengthen sovereignty, the Arctic environment, and heritage by granting Northerners more control over governance; better housing, a new "Arctic Research Station" for "environmental science and resource development"
• Guv will map the Arctic seabed for the first time
• Canada needs to maintain "the capacity to act"--new patrol ships and aerial surveillance, increasing the size & capacity of the Arctic Rangers

The Canadian Forces

• CF are rebuilding: deserve "equipment and training required" for surveillance and protection/defense of North America (how 'bout Canada for starters?!) and for fulfilling our responsibilities associated with UN and Allied missions
• work with provinces and territories to modernize reservist reinstatement policies
• care of our veterans (doesn't say anything specific here)
• Under this guv, our message to the world has been: "Canada is back as a credible player on the world stage" (Bleccchhh!)
• "shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law"..."concrete values" (again, not sure where he's goin' here, but there's that word "concrete" again--a fave of Steve's)

Foreign Affairs

• PM calls on parliament to confer honourary citizenship to Aung San Suu Kyi

Afghanistan (so we're done w/non-defense related Foreign Affairs already? That's it?!)

• Canada has joined the UN-sanctioned mission: it is "noble and necessary"...Canadians know that "without security, there can be no humanitarian aid, no reconstruction and no democratic development" (We do?)
• Evidence of success can be found in the "4 million boys and 2 million girls" who can "now go to school"
• Canada should accelerate training of Afghan army and police and stay until 2011
• "our international commitments and reputation" are at stake..."can't abandon" the people of Afghanistan, so we will need to accelerate training of the Afghan police and army; this won't be fully accomplished by 2009, so we "need" to stay till 2011
• Makes fleeting mention of the "independent" panel lead by John Manley, which will "advise" the government on its options (Rolling mah eyes)

Haiti

• "Canada's efforts in Haiti are a compelling example of how we can work with our neighbours" (uh...are you sure aboot that?!)
• "In Haiti and elsewhere, our government will bring greater focus...assistance"

(Return to Part I or Continue to Part III)