Opposition leaders found a lot to criticize and, with the exception of New Democratic Party head Alexa McDonough, little to praise in Monday's throne speech.

The government presented an activist agenda in the speech, promising programs in many areas, including municipal infrastructure, innovation, aboriginals and foreign aid.

In Tuesday's formal reponse in Parliament, McDonough thanked the Liberals for adopting her party's policies, and said the NDP caucus would hold the Liberals to the "progressive agenda" outlined in the throne speech.

Alexa McDonough

Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper attacked the government for its scattergun approach and outlined a different view of the country.

He told CBC's Newsworld that his party would have a much more focused approach to government.

"We're talking about spending on two or three priority areas," in contrast to the 58 promises he said the Liberals made.

Stephen Harper

Later, in Parliament, he said "we can't have everything we want."

Harper's 45-minute rebuttal to the 35-minute speech emphasized smaller government, lower taxes and more support for the military and Canada's allies, rather than the Liberal's "moral neutralism" as demonstrated by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's comments that the West's wealth creates resentment.

Chrétien used his reply to repeat much of the content of the original speech, The Canada We Want. The prime minister, however, did say the government would continue to balance the budget.

Gilles Duceppe

Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe said many of the federal plans intrude into provincial jurisdiction, or duplicate programs the Quebec government has already introduced.

And the government missed an opportunity because "there is no recognition of the Quebec nation," Duceppe said.

The speech contained no specific programs, and no commitments of money.

Joe Clark

Conservative leader Joe Clark pointed to the lack of details. "It was a piece of fluff. It was a public relations ploy designed to divert attention from a government that is divided and drifting."

• FROM SEPTEMBER 30, 2002: Activist agenda set out in throne speech

There was scant mention of the military and no discussion of issues such as Iraq.

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Harper said the government should allow private money in health care, and reject the Kyoto accord.

He said not all the promises can be priorities. For example, rather than fix every city's infrastructure, he said an Alliance program would focus on areas of federal jurisdiction, such as border crossings.

And rather than many programs targeted at families, the Alliance would help families by cutting taxes.