Throne Speech Set for June 3

The Tories get to unveil their vision for the next four years of Parliament while all MPs select a new Speaker.

Political junkies, mark your calendars for Friday, June 3. According to the Sun chain, that's when Gov. Gen. David Johnston will read the Conservative government's throne speech, which will lay out its priorities and legislative agenda for the next four years. That same day, the 308 members of Parliament will select a new Speaker of the House to replace Peter Milliken, who retired before the election after playing the referee in the House of Commons since 2001. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will have to fill the six vacant spots of his cabinet by then, and shortly thereafter will introduce his budget, which his party has promised will be much the same as the one that was introduced in March but never voted upon because that supposedly “unnecessary” election was called.