Prime Minister Jean Chrétien spelled out an activist agenda for what is likely his last session of Parliament, including ratifying the Kyoto protocol and reducing child poverty.

• BACKGROUNDER: The speech from the throne

It also promises health care reform, all without going into debt.

Adrienne Clarkson arrives on Parliament Hill, in the rain

"The government will maintain its unwavering commitment to balanced budgets, disciplined spending, a declining ratio of debt-to-GDP, and fair and competitive taxes," said the throne speech delivered in the Senate chamber by Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson.

• RELATED: Throne speech recycled, opposition says

"The Canada We Want" laid out the government's plans to pursue ambitious goals on a range of domestic and foreign issues.

CBC BACKGROUNDERS

It also promises to hold itself to a stricter code of ethics, starting soon. "Early in this session, the government will provide clear guidance and better enforcement of the ethical standards expected of elected officials and senior public servants," Clarkson said.

The speech opens the second session of the 37th Parliament of Canada, expected to be the last full session before Chrétien steps down.

In the last year of his leadership, Chrétien intends to leave a mark on an array of policy areas, from health care and the environment to child poverty and the lives of aboriginal people.

The government promises in the throne speech to:

• Improve the health-care system;
• Get Canada's children off welfare;
• Close the gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians;
• Deal with climate change;
• Make Canada a world leader in innovation and learning;
• Attract talent and investment;
• Help cities;
• Better enforce ethical standards for MPs and civil servants.

Everyone either pleased or disappointed with the promises laid out in the throne speech will have to wait until next spring to see how they manifest themselves in the budget.

With the Romanow commission set to make its report on the health-care system in November, the prime minister promised in the speech to meet with the premiers early next year to make plans for reforms to the system in time for the next budget.

The environment will be a large concern for the government in the next several months, as the speech repeated Chrétien's promise to bring the Kyoto protocol on climate change to Parliament before the end of the year.

"Meeting this challenge must become a national project, calling upon the efforts and contributions of all Canadians, in all regions and sectors of the economy," the speech said.

The government also plans to create parks and marine conservation areas, and reintroduce the species at risk legislation that was killed when Parliament was prorogued so the throne speech could happen.

The government says it will increase the National Child Benefit for poor families, and increase access to early childhood education and child care. It also plans to help families with disabled children.

Aboriginal families will get more help, with programs to raise the level of education on reserves, and to deal with the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Legislation on First Nations governance will be reintroduced, to give aboriginal people the tools to improve the way their communities are administered.

The government promises to "work with these communities to build their capacity for economic and social development."

Aboriginals living in Canada's cities will also get more help, with expanded pilot projects aimed specifically at their needs.

The government plans a new urban strategy to make Canada's cities more attractive to business and individuals. "Competitive cities and healthy communities are vital to our individual and national well-being," the speech said.

Cities themselves will get a boost, as the government says it will put in place a 10-year program for investments in urban infrastructure.

The speech also said a national drug strategy will be developed, which could include decriminalizing marijuana.

Regarding global issues, the throne speech echoed comments made recently by Chrétien regarding events in the past year.

"The events of Sept. 11 demonstrated that our progress at home can be affected in a moment by world events. We see unrest in many parts of the world. We still see far too much poverty," the speech said.

The government plans to double its development aid in the next eight years, and will eliminate many tariffs and quotas on products from developing countries at the start of next year.

The speech also reiterated Canada's commitment to work through the United Nations "to ensure that the rule of international law is respected and enforced.

"At the same time, the government will remain vigilant and ready to ensure the protection of Canadians from emerging threats, and will work wit the United States to address our shared security needs."