News Analysis Progressive policies were at the top of the agenda as the governor general delivered the speech from the throne on Nov. 23, but critics say not enough was forthcoming on inflation and cost-of-living issues. Gov. Gen. Mary Simon outlined the government’s focus on defeating the pandemic, fighting climate change, and advancing reconciliation with First Nations, diversity and inclusion, and economic recovery. The speech also made mention of rising living costs, but only two areas were included as a focus to address: housing and child care. “This is a government that is caught between what it wants to be focusing on and what it’s being forced to focus on by circumstances,” says Aaron Wudrick, domestic policy program director at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI). Wudrick told The Epoch Times that the speech represents what the government wants and is “dreaming about,” but some issues are “annoyingly getting in the way—things …