Canada's 41st session of Parliament will officially open Friday with a throne speech expected to outline the Harper government's priorities for the next four years, from the economy to Senate reform.
It will be read by Gov.-Gen. David Johnston, marking his first opportunity to deliver the speech since being appointed to the job last year.
The speech, to be delivered in the Senate Chamber, is expected to be relatively short and to the point, and focused on key priority areas for the Conservatives such as passing the federal budget next week.
"I think it's going to be a rehash of the kind of things the prime minister talked about during the election," Gerry Nicholls, a political consultant, told CTV's Canada AM.
"It will be steady as she goes, focused on the economy and he might bring up specific promises like the Wheat Board, government subsidies and the gun registry, Senate reform, but there will be nothing shocking, no major surprises today."
The document is also expected to make mention of the Conservatives' plan to eliminate the $2-per-vote subsidy for political parties, and to push through the party's crime legislation that died in the House of Commons when the election was called.
The throne speech may also outline the government's new plan to expand the House of Commons to reflect growing populations in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta.
Top of the agenda, however, will be the Conservatives' federal budget. The fiscal plan was printed and released in March, but was never voted on by MPs because the country was thrust into an election.
Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will reintroduce the largely unchanged budget on Monday.
With the party's new majority government status, the document is expected to easily pass when it goes to a vote in the House of Commons.
Government House Leader Peter Van Loan said on Thursday the party wants to have the budget passed before MPs go on their summer break later this month.
"The number one priority as we said during the election is the economy, and that means getting our budget throught the House," he told Don Martin, host of CTV's Power Play on Thursday.
Van Loan said the government also intends to introduce a bill to extend Canada's mission in Libya before MPs head home for the summer.
