OTTAWA—Social justice and religious groups who have been demanding a “just” recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic could have written the Speech from the Throne delivered by Governor General Julie Payette Sept. 23.

What campaigns such as the faith-based For the Love of Creation, a coalition of religious groups which includes the Canadian Catholic Church’s Development and Peace international aid organization, have been asking for was all there.

As Payette read the speech on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, she said “the last six months have laid bare fundamental gaps in our society, and in societies around the world.”

“This pandemic has been hard for everyone. But for those who were already struggling, the burden has been even heavier.”

The federal government pledged to continue to support Canadians vulnerable to economic hardships resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and to act to address the threat of climate change in future economic development.

“Climate action will be a cornerstone of our plan to support and create a million jobs across the country,” she continued, adding Canada’s eventual recovery from the impact of the global health crisis will also include efforts to foster better relations with First Nations, investment in a national child care plan in association with the provinces, and national standards for care of the elderly which the COVID-19 pandemic has shown to be woefully inadequate at the provincial level.

The faith-based Ottawa advocacy group Citizens for Public Justice, a member of For the Love of Creation coalition, was quick to point out the similarities between what the federal government has put forward as its agenda and what faith-based social justice groups have been seeking.

“CPJ was happy to see all three of our key issue areas highlighted, along with accompanying policy proposals,” it said in a statement after the throne speech, adding “the government borrowed language from many advocacy campaigns to put forward a progressive vision for the future.”

However, while the agenda set out in the throne speech is in many ways similar to its campaign, the devil is in the details and whether the government actually puts those words into action.

“As can be expected for these types of addresses, the merit of these words will be determined by the details that follow,” they said. “CPJ remains hopeful that in the implementation of these policies and budgetary decisions, Canada will move quickly to achieve climate justice and ensure the rights of Indigenous Peoples, refugees, people living in poverty, and others experiencing intersecting forms of systemic oppression are honoured and upheld.”

In a Sept. 14 open letter from the For the Love of Creation coalition to federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, the faith groups urged the government to make many of the promises that it eventually did make in the throne speech.

“Even before the emergence of COVID-19, we knew that we were entering into a crucial decade for climate action. Addressing the climate emergency is more important than ever and must now be done while also responding to the pandemic and devastating economic, political, cultural, and social issues,” the letter said.

“Indigenous Peoples have long spoken of the interconnectedness of all Creation. Respecting this interconnectedness is critical for ecological and economic integrity, right relations with Indigenous Peoples, and for holistic recovery from the pandemic.”

The throne speech, which was necessary after the federal government prorogued Parliament in August, eventually leads to a confidence vote in the House of Commons. When that confidence vote will be held is not yet known.

The Official Opposition Conservatives have indicated they will vote against the throne speech, but the Liberals only need the support of one party in the House of Commons to survive a confidence vote. The federal NDP has said it will back the government.

Canadian Catholic News.