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CUE PEARSON GREETS TASCHEREAU AFTER 40 SECS.




Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CANADA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER LESTER PEARSON ATTENDED THE OPENING OF THE 26TH CANADIAN PARLIAMENT IN OTTAWA MAY 17.THE CEREMONIAL OPENING WAS PERFORMED BY CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERT TASCHEREAU, OF THE CANADIAN SUPREME COURT, WHO GREETED MR.PEARSON ON ARRIVAL.

AFTER INSPECTING THE GUARD OF HONOUR, MR.PEARSON ENTERED THE CHAMBER TO HEAR THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE, FORECASTING GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION.

SYNOPSIS: THE CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION OF NUCLEAR ARMS FOR CANADIAN FORCES WAS TACKLED OBLIQUELY.THE SPEECH SAID CANADA'S FORCES SHOULD HAVE "MODERN WEAPONS" NECESSARY FOR DEFENSIVE TASKS UNDERTAKEN IN HER ALLIANCES.NEW LEGISLATION WILL FOLLOW A "HARD LINE" PROGRAM THAT OFFERS LITTLE HOPE OF TAX CUTS AND A MINIMUM OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.THERE ALSO SEEMS LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF CUTTING THIS YEAR'S PROSPECTIVE DEFICIT OF SIX-HUNDRED TO EIGHT-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.THE THRONE SPEECH LABELLED UNEMPLOYMENT AS THE MOST URGENT DOMESTIC PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THIS WOULD BE TACKLED BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT MOVED ON TO ANY SOCIAL-SERVICE PROGRAMS.

CANADA'S BIGGEST PUBLIC SHOW OPENED TO A CAPACITY AUDIENCE IN OTTAWA THIS WEEK.THE OPENING OF THE TWENTY SIXTH PARLIAMENT, HOWEVER, HAS SORJE UNINVITED GUESTS IN THE CAST.IN A SENSE, THOUGH THE NUCLEAR DEMONSTRATION WAS NOT INAPPROPRIATE -- THE QUESTION OF NUCLEAR ARMS FOR CANADA HASTENED THE END OF THE PREVIOUS PARLIAMENT AND WILL BE A HIGHLY-CONTENTIOUS ISSUE FOR THIS ONE.IN THE ABSENCE OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL GEORGE VANIER -- STILL RECOVERING FROM A RECENT HEART ATTACK -- PARLIAMENT WAS OPENED BY CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERT TASCHEREAU OF THE SUPREME COURT.

CANADA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, LESTER PEARSON, GREETED THE CHIEF JUSTICE AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE.THE INSPECTION OF A GUARD OF HONOUR FOLLOWED BEFORE THE CHIEF JUSTICE ENTERED THE SENATE CHAMBER TO READ THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE, FORECASTING GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION.NO MAJOR SURPRISES EMERGED FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S SPEECH.ONE POLITICAL WRITE DESCRIBED THE SPEECH AS THE NEW LIBERAL GOVERNMENT'S CAREFUL-PLANNED, HEAVILY FINANCED LEGISLATIVE ROUTE TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY.