Canadian Tories woo votes with pro-consumer programme

Canada's ruling Tories on Wednesday rolled out legislative priorities to woo disgruntled consumers, proposing unbundling TV packages, no-cost banking and curbing cellphone roaming costs.

Governor General David Johnston outlined the government's agenda for the upcoming parliamentary session in a speech to both houses of Parliament.

In it, he said the the government would seek to reduce roaming costs on mobile networks, expand no-cost basic banking services and end extra fees to receive paper bills instead of by email.

"Our government believes Canadian families should be able to choose the combination of television channels they want. It will require channels to be unbundled," Johnston added.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives have been in power since 2006.

His focus had hitherto largely been on the economy and job creation, against the backdrop of the worst global economic and financial upheaval in nearly a century, which is now behind us.

Its sudden shift toward consumer-friendly pocketbook issues comes ahead of elections expected in 2015, with recent polls showing the party trailing the Liberals and facing a third place finish.

Still, the economy and trade also remains another priority. Harper earlier signalled a long-awaited free trade deal with the European Union was close to being finalized.

Johnston said the government would introduce legislation requiring governments to keep balanced budgets or to give "concrete timelines for returning to balance in the event of an economic crisis."

He said the Tories are planning legislation to force companies to pay to clean up oil spills, and for rail companies to hike their liability insurance, as well as improver pipeline and tanker safety.

The government will "enshrine the polluter-pay system into law," said Johnston.

The latter is in response to a deadly train derailment and tanker explosion in Lac Megantic, Quebec in July that killed 47 people.

And, Canada will bestow honorary citizenship to Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old shot by the Taliban for championing girls' rights to education, Johnston said.

"She faced down evil and oppression and now speaks boldly for those who are silenced," he said.

Malala will become just the sixth honorary Canadian, following in the footsteps of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi and the Aga Khan.

Malala was shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban on October 9, 2012, for speaking out against them, demanding that girls be given the right to go to school.

She was flown to Britain for specialist care and has gone onto become a global ambassador for children's rights.