A 300 Word Blog About Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Throne Speech and the way in which the issue is treated in the Media

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007 Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Throne Speech was read by Governor General Michaelle Jean. The speech outlines the Conservative government's plan for Parliament. During the past week from Wednesday through Sunday The Toronto Star has been focusing on the Conservative government's stance on crime, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's reaction to the Throne Speech and how the Throne Speech is affecting Canadian women.

The Conservative and Liberal governments are at odds on the key issues put forth by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in his Throne Speech. According to The Toronto Star, The Conservatives are against Kyoto being used to battle greenhouse gas emissions, want Canada to continue being a player until 2011 in the Afghan war, and are fighting for required prison sentences for gun crimes.

The Liberals, on the other hand, want to involved with Kyoto until 2012, have Canadian troops out of Afghanistan by 2009 and have anti-crime legislation be amended.

In relation to crime, the throne speech has promised to introduce stiffer impaired driving laws, raise the age of sexual consent to 16 years of age and work towards denying bail to criminals accused of serious crimes.

The Toronto Star also reported on Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's reaction towards the Throne Speech. Dion was convinced by the Liberals to not challenge the Conservative minority government because of the Throne Speech. Even though, this is the case, Dion still wrote a Throne Speech which was made exclusive to the Toronto Star. In his Throne Speech Dion talks about an alternative plan for Canada which works towards making the country the richest and fairest in the world.

According to The Toronto Star, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government did not do much to sway female voters. Belinda Stronach, Liberal Women's Caucus Chair said that the silence on women's issues speaks volumes. According to her Harper may have worsened his chances of receiving votes from Canadian females. Also according to an Angus Reid poll which results were published in The Toronto Star , more men than women are in favour of what the speech had said.

The Toronto Star again also with the help of Angus Reid Strategies Poll, published an article which discussed the nation's disapproval ratings with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Throne Speech.