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MP's Throne Speech Highlights

From Law & Order, to the economy to pick-and-pay TV

The federal government is targeting cyberbullying in the upcoming session of Parliament.

In Wednesday's throne speech, the Conservatives promised a new law prohibiting the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.

The pledge comes after troubling incidents across the country involving young people whose images were shared on the Internet, and they ultimately took their own life.

Oxford MP Dave MacKenzie says it's a bit of a change of focus for the government.  "You know, the emphasis is on victims.  We feel strongly that is the component that has been missed in years past is the victims part."

The government says the new laws will give police and prosecutors new tools to effectively address cyberbullying that involves criminal invasion of privacy, intimidation and personal abuse.
 
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There were a number of new economic plans in the Throne Speech including legislation requiring balanced budgets during normal economic times. MacKenzie says it's about setting the course for future governments to keep the economy on track through good times and bad.  "The Throne Speech indicated that we will be out of a deficit position in 2015, but also putting into place laws that you can't go into a deficit unless we have financial situations like we had in 2008." 
 
Stephen Harper leaves for Brussels today to finalize a Canada-European Union free-trade agreement.  The agreement is being billed as having the potential to create 80,000 new Canadian jobs.

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And if you've ever felt like you're paying for a bunch of channels with nothing on, you're not alone.

The government promised in Wednesday's throne speech to take steps that will require TV providers to unbundle channels to allow consumers to pick and choose

MacKenzie says it's not a huge concern of national importance, but he says there have been longstanding complaints about paying for channels you don't want.  "It's one of those things that I hear about frequently, is why I have to buy a bundle that includes 4 channels that all have the same thing on it at the same time, and/or language channels that I don't understand."

The government is also looking to help out consumers by reducing cell phone roaming costs in Canada, and are promising an airline passenger bill of rights.

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