The authors of last week’s Speech From the Throne could have been assisted by professional newspaper editors with sharpened pencils and red-line ink.
My first editor, Ray Guay, at initial reading, would have cut the speech in half. On second reading half of the remaining pages would have been eliminated and then he would have removed extraneous phrases and unnecessary verbiage from the balance.
The result: a 10 or 15 minute speech that would have hit all the highlights without all the double-speak so often coming out of political offices.
One look at the Governor-General holding that massive binder was a true indication that it contained more pages than usual, as previously predicted by those in the know in Ottawa circles. Or were the extra pages there because the type was so much enlarged to enable her to read without squinting? Unlikely, but perhaps.
The philosophy of editors such as Ray Guay was “don’t waste words.” Say what you mean, don’t use six words when four will say the same thing, and use the KISS plan of “keeping it simple and short” (nasty word expunged for political correctness.)
Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, much of the pomp and ceremony of Throne Speech day was eliminated, and attendance was similarly reduced. The finished speech could have followed that pattern.
I once accompanied Ray to a provincial Throne Speech. I was dressed in a warm brown dress with leopard-spotted collar, covered by a leopard style coat, with a creepy leopard-spotted beret (because ladies were supposed to wear hats.) I was too busy gawking around and being awed by my surroundings to really pay attention to what was said.
Ray, on the other hand, must have listened intently because on the drive back to Moose Jaw he explained what he had heard and what he would write. Back in the newsroom, he used his two typing fingers to hammer out his story in less time than it took me to shed my leopard spots.
After listening to part of the most recent speech, the one item that caught my attention was the one-liner that indicated the Old Age Security pension would be increased for seniors who have reached the age of 75 years.
I mentioned it to Housemate who hadn’t caught that quick reference. I did the research and confirmed what I had heard.
I did not dance around the kitchen in jubilation. Instead, I grumped at having to personally wait half a decade for my increased payment. “I might not live that long to gain that extra money,” I pointed out to Housemate who grinned, because he is of a certain age that he won’t have to wait for better wages. And good for others who are already eligible.
For those of us who have to wait, two questions followed: how much will the increase be and will it be paid at the beginning of the 75th year or at the end?
If this increase follows the pattern of other increases, will it be 75 cents a cheque or, be still my heart, as much as one dollar a month? Either amount isn’t much of a reason to celebrate.
However, if I don’t live long enough to enjoy this extra remuneration, Housemate will live in comfort in the knowledge that the Throne Speech also promised to pay a higher survivor’s benefit.
Isn’t he the lucky one?
And following Ray Guay’s lesson for using less words, here are mine: “Big Deal.”
Joyce Walter can be reached at [email protected]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
