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Throne Speech Backgrounder

What is a Speech from the Throne?

The Speech from the Throne is the speech at the opening of a session parliament. No public business in Parliament may be conducted until the Speech has been delivered. Parliament is the legislative branch of the federal government in Canada.

About Parliament

The Throne Speech sets out the broad goals and direction of the government over the next year. In particular the Speech sets out the priorities of the prime minister. The prime minister is the head of government in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Website

In addition to the federal parliament, each provincial and territorial legislature in Canada also has a similar speech to open a session of the legislature. In Quebec, the speech to open a session of the National Assembly is called the Lieutenant Governor's Address. In the remaining provinces and territories the speech is called the Speech from the Throne.

Who Gives the Speech from the Throne?

In the federal Parliament, the Governor General of Canada gives the Speech from the Throne. The governor general is the representative of the Queen in Canada. A governor general is selected by the prime minister and appointed by the Queen. In Canada's contemporary form of government, the role of the governor general is mainly ceremonial.

Governor General of Canada Website

The practice of having the governor general read the throne speech stems from Canada's Parliamentary system and its historical practices. Parliament consists of the Queen and the members of the Senate and the House of Commons. Parliament may only meet at the summons of the Queen. The Senate and House of Commons cannot open session by their own authority. Instead, they may only meet following this official summons in the Speech from the Throne.

Provincial and territorial Speeches from the Throne are given a lieutenant governor, which is the Queen's representative in that particular province or territory.

Who Writes the Speech from the Throne?

While the Queen's representative gives speeches from the throne, the current government writes them. The prime minister and his/her advisors, in the case of the federal Parliament, and by the premier and his/her advisors, in the case of provincial and territorial legislatures, write the speeches. The Queen's representative may be invited to contribute introductory material dealing with his or her own activities and with royal visits.

Where is the Throne Speech Given?

The Throne Speech is given in the Senate. The Canadian Parliament has two legislative bodies, the elected House of Commons (or lower house) and the appointed Senate (or upper house). Since neither the Governor General nor Senators are allowed to enter the House of Commons, the Speech is given in the Senate Chamber.

Canadian Parliament Website

What happens after the Speech from the Throne is read?

Under the rules of the House of Commons, six days of debate are required after the speech from the throne is given:

Day of the Speech

• The Governor General gives the Speech from the Throne
• There is no debate in the House of Commons

Day 1

• Debate in the House of Commons begins on the day following the speech from the throne.
• The government moves to “commend” the governor general for the address, which means that the House of Commons has confidence in the government and accepts the program it has set out in the speech.
• The Leader of the Opposition makes a speech regarding the government's intentions and moves a vote of non-confidence.
• The Prime Minister makes a speech elaborating on certain aspects of the Speech from the Throne.
• The other opposition parties then enter the debate.

Day 2-6

• Debate continues each day on the government's priorities set out in the speech from the throne.
• At the end of the second, fourth and sixth days of debate a vote is held to determine the House of Common's confidence in the government and the program set out in the speech from the throne.

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2004 Throne Speech

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