Provencher Conservative Member of Parliament Ted Falk says last week's Throne Speech, opening a new Sitting of Parliament, was a missed opportunity. Falk says he was hoping to hear how the Liberal government would heal some of the wounds that are dividing this country.

Ted Falk"I think all Canadians recognize the serious division that we have right across our country. I think it was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to start healing some of those divides. That was probably the most critical aspect that people were looking for inside the Throne Speech and it just wasn't there."

Falk is also disappointed the Throne Speech made little mention of agriculture other than to give reassurances to producers who are part of the supply management system, that they will be compensated for loss of market share due to various trade deals. He says he was somewhat encouraged though to hear a commitment by the Liberals to reduce taxes for the middle class.

"The one positive thing I did see is that they are going to have a tax cut for the middle class. However, they've committed to increasing the carbon tax. And I really believe that the increase in the carbon tax is going to trickle down and it's actually going to mitigate any tax decreases that the middle class is going to see because, eventually, the costs of the carbon tax to manufacturers, to business to industry, is going to trickle down into the cost of every day goods for middle class Canadians."

Falk says the Conservatives will work hard during this session to help oil-producing provinces get their products to market.

Parliament will be in session until the end of this week and will then break for Christmas and resume January 27th.