The Conservatives will lay out their priorities in a throne speech Tuesday night, and then it will be up to the Opposition Liberals to decide the government's fate.
If enough opposition MPs in the House of Commons don't vote to accept the speech, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government will fall and an election will be called.
Speculation has been swirling about what specifics the speech will contain.
Some political analysts believe the speech will outline tax cuts for individual Canadians and businesses. There also may be help for the struggling manufacturing sector, which has been hit hard by the rising Canadian dollar.
In terms of crime, the government will likely signal that it plans to reintroduce a crime package that died when Parliament was prorogued, with measures that include tougher bail conditions, harsher sentences for gun crimes and changes to the ways repeat offenders are labelled dangerous.
When it comes to the environment, the government is expected to declare the Kyoto Protocol and its emissions targets dead. Instead, the government will outline its own plans for reducing greenhouse gases.
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean will arrive at Parliament to deliver the speech in several hours later than usual, at 6:35 p.m. ET — a time slot that can draw large television audiences.
CBC Television and Newsworld will have full coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, while CBC Radio will begin programming at 7 p.m. ET.
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If enough opposition MPs in the House of Commons don't vote to accept the speech, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government will fall and an election will be called.
Speculation has been swirling about what specifics the speech will contain.
Some political analysts believe the speech will outline tax cuts for individual Canadians and businesses. There also may be help for the struggling manufacturing sector, which has been hit hard by the rising Canadian dollar.
In terms of crime, the government will likely signal that it plans to reintroduce a crime package that died when Parliament was prorogued, with measures that include tougher bail conditions, harsher sentences for gun crimes and changes to the ways repeat offenders are labelled dangerous.
When it comes to the environment, the government is expected to declare the Kyoto Protocol and its emissions targets dead. Instead, the government will outline its own plans for reducing greenhouse gases.
Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean will arrive at Parliament to deliver the speech in several hours later than usual, at 6:35 p.m. ET — a time slot that can draw large television audiences.
CBC Television and Newsworld will have full coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, while CBC Radio will begin programming at 7 p.m. ET.
Full Story
What would you like to see in the throne speech?
More...