RadioActive wrote:

The Speech From The Throne, the traditional start-up of every federal or provincial government in Canada, was read at Queen's Park on Tuesday. 

It is, as Scott Reid noted on a NT1010 segment in the morning, not only one of the dullest documents to write (which he did on several occasions) but an absolute snooze-fest to read out loud, one of the chores for whoever is occupying the role of Lt.-Governor. 

Back in 2007, that was the late, great David Onley, a broadcaster who worked at CFRB, CFTR and most memorably, as the City TV weatherman. I was lucky enough to work with David at several stations and a nicer man you could will never meet. He was simply beloved by everyone. 

One day, long after his political tenure ended, I visited with him at U. of T., where he was a lecturer. I asked him about the infamous Speech, where the government lays out its plans for its time in office. 

He gave me a look of boredom and told me hated reading the thing. It was usually dozens and dozens of pages long, as dull as counting sheep and as it droned on and on and on and on, even he worried he would fall asleep. I asked him how he got through it. 

And he told me one of my all time favourite lines, something he learned only too well in broadcasting. He said, "At one point, around the first hour, I seriously thought of putting down the document and saying "And we'll be right back with more after this word from our sponsor!"

I would have paid good money to see that, but of course it never happened. But he told me he was sorely tempted every time he had to read one of those things. 

He was a great guy and I'm sure I speak for all who knew him that he's very much missed. He passed away in 2023. Or maybe he's just in a long sleep from having to read the Speech. Either way, we will not see this kind of wonderful soul again. But every time there's a Speech From The Throne, I think of him throwing to commercial! If only (Or should that be if Onley?) 

Scott Reid wrote the book on 'dull and boring'.