Parliament to resume June 2

Parliament will resume June2 andthe speech from the throne will follow the next day, Conservative House leader John Baird announced Monday.

"It's time to reopen the doors behind me," said Baird, who made the announcement in the foyer of the House of Commons. "It's time for parliamentarians to get back to work for Canadians."

Baird said the first order of business June 2will beto elect a Speaker,since Peter Milliken did not run for re-election. Bairdsaid good luck to theMPs who are running for the position.

"I do fear they have awfully big shoes to fill with Peter's retirement,"he said.

MPselected the Speaker by asecret ballot, and there will be no changein that process, Baird said.

On June 3,Gov. Gen. David Johnston will read the speech from the throne in the Senate chamber, which will set out the government's priorities for the session.

"Our majority Conservative government will focus this first session entirely on the priority of Canadians," Baird said. "We will make good on the promises we made during the election campaign."

Keeping taxes low and creating jobs were among those promises.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will reintroduce the government's budget, said Baird, who did not give a date. The budget was tabled March 22 but didn't pass before the election was called for May 2.

It's not clear how long this session of Parliament will last. Baird said the government will consult the other parties before deciding when the summer break should start.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has saidthat afterthe budget, his priority is to pass an omnibus anti-crime bill, which would include all the justice and public safety legislation the Conservatives haven't already put through the House and Senate.

The NDP, which now forms the Official Opposition, immediately welcomed the news Parliament will reopen June 2.

"We have to get down to business," NDP MP Charlie Angus said after Baird finished his brief news conference. "We're coming back fully ready to work and very eager to show what we can do as the opposition for this government.

"We're not there to play games with them, but we're not going to give them a free ride."

Conservative officials have said the budget will essentially be the same as the one introducedin March, which opposition party leaders opposed. Angus said the NDP will keep a close watch on the government.

"On any given night. I can think of many mean things Mr. Harper might plan to do, but until I see them I'm not really going to lose any sleep over them," Angus said.

Parliament Hill has been mostlyquiet since theelection but is expected toget busiersoon, with new MPs arriving for orientation and training and a cabinet shuffle expected after Tuesday.

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