Across the Pond and Back Again | Your Look Ahead from Summa Strategies

ICYMI

• Election speculation continues to swirl around Ottawa. Last Thursday, Liberal national campaign co-chairs Navdeep Bains and Minister Melanie Joly declared a “state of electoral urgency” in order to accelerate the nomination processes for local candidates. That same day, MPs agreed to schedule time on June 15th to allow members who aren’t running again to deliver farewell speeches.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland attended the G7 Finance Ministers’ Meeting in London this past weekend, where an historic agreement was reached to set a 15 per cent minimum corporate tax rate, to be implemented country-by-country. Another important pillar of the agreement was a framework for in-country taxation of large multinational companies, proposing to award taxing rights on at least 20 per cent of profit exceeding a 10 per cent margin for the largest and most profitable multinational enterprises. Speaking with reporters on Saturday, Freeland called the agreement an important first step. Despite language in the G7 agreement regarding the removal of all digital services taxes, Freeland also told reporters that the Government of Canada still intends to go forward with unilaterally imposing its own digital services tax starting January 1, 2022. Which may be a risky strategy.
• On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Pfizer will continue to supply over 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses each week until the end of August. Canada is expecting 9 million Pfizer doses in July and 9.1 million in August. 
• Following the horrific discovery of the remains of 215 children around the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, issues of truth and reconciliation have dominated the agenda in Ottawa. Last Thursday, the federal government presented its response to the 2019 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report, where they promised “transformative changes” to tackle the persistent inequities facing Indigenous people dealing with the justice system.
• Last week, Prime Minister Trudeau announced his first overseas trip since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trudeau will participate in the G7 Leaders’ Summit in the United Kingdom starting this Friday. He will subsequently attend a NATO Summit on June 14th followed by the Canada-EU Summit in Brussels.
• Last Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Freeland and Small Business Minister Mary Ng announced that the new Canada Recovery Hiring Program will be available retroactively to June 6, 2021. They also announced that the Business Credit Availability Program and Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program are being extended to December 31, 2021.
• Last week, the National Advisory Council on Immunization recommended that a first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine can be followed by either Moderna or Pfizer. They also advised that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be mixed for first and second doses.
• Last Monday, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion, and International Trade Mary Ng announced that the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is now accepting loan applications. Minister Ng also announced the launch of a pilot microloan program for Black entrepreneurs and business owners in British Columbia and Ontario seeking microloans between $10,000 and $25,000.

In the House

• Today, the House of Commons begins week three of a spring sitting that will end on or before June 23rd. MPs are scheduled to continue debating Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), at third reading. However, the government is likely to prioritize dealing with the time allocation motion introduced and debated on Friday in relation to Bill #C10 at committee stage.
• Tomorrow is a Conservative opposition day. Motions currently on-notice include a motion from finance critic Ed Fast calling on the Prime Minister to reject the international corporate tax rate agreement and unequivocally proclaim Canada’s exclusive right to determine our nation’s domestic tax policy and rates; and one from health critic Michelle Rempel Garner, calling on the Prime Minister and his delegation to quarantine at one of the designated hotel quarantine locations upon their return from the upcoming G7 meetings in the United Kingdom. 
• The government’s top priority legislation, the Budget Implementation Bill (Bill C-30), has completed clause-by-clause consideration at the Standing Committee on Finance and is scheduled for debate on Wednesday and Thursday.
• As the summer adjournment approaches, three important government bills are currently being considered in committee:

• Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, continues to undergo clause-by-clause consideration at the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. 
• Bill C-12, the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, continues to undergo clause-by-clause consideration at the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.
• Bill C-19, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (COVID-19 response) remains stalled at the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
• There are 10 bills at second reading for which time is running out. Some of the noteworthy bills include:

• Bill C-11, the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2020.
• Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms)
• Bill C-22, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

In the Senate

• Bill C-15, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act is currently being considered by the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples. The bill is expected to pass before the summer break.
• Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, is currently being studied by the Senate banking committee. While the bill could pass before the summer break, some Senators are delaying the process by expressing concern and proposing amendments. 
• Senate committees are currently conducting pre-studies of Bills C-30 and C-12. 

Committee Business

• The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development will meet today to continue their clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-12. 
• The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage will meet today to continue their  clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-10.
• The Standing Committee on Natural Resources will meet today to hear from witnesses regarding the low-carbon and renewable fuels industry in Canada.
• The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates will meet today to hear from officials about the government’s response to COVID-19.
• The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics will meet today to continue studying issues of privacy and reputation on platforms such as Pornhub. Minister of Canadian Heritage, Steven Guilbeault will be appearing. 
• The Standing Committee on Health will meet today to continue hearing from witnesses regarding the emergency situation facing Canadians in light of COVID-19.
• The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities will meet tomorrow to consider a draft report concerning the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation sector. 
• The Standing Committee on Finance will meet tomorrow regarding the Canada Revenue Agency’s efforts to combat tax avoidance and evasion.
• The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food will meet tomorrow to continue their study on the environmental contribution of agriculture. 
• The Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology will meet tomorrow to consider a draft report concerning front-line grocery store workers. The committee will also hear from witnesses regarding Bill C-253, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (pension plans and group insurance plans).

#ONpoli

• Last Friday, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott sent a letter to federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair asking the federal government to implement a “single national approach” to international travel and Canada’s borders. 
• Citing a “reliable and increased supply of vaccines,” the Ontario government is accelerating second dose appointments for COVID-19 vaccines. As of today, individuals aged 70 and over as well as individuals who received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine on or before April 18, 2021 can book their second dose.
• The Ontario Legislature rose for the summer on Thursday and is expected to be recessed until September 13, 2021.
• Last Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford announced that his government has decided to continue with remote learning for all elementary and secondary students across the province for the remainder of this school year.

#QCpoli

• Over 75% of adults in Quebec have now received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Last week, the provincial government announced that the interval between doses will be shortened to eight weeks. 
• Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon resigned from Premier Legault’s cabinet last week following a critical report by the provincial ethics commissioner. The commissioner ruled that Fitzgibbon was violating ethics rules for ministers by owning shares in companies that do business with the government.

#ABpoli 

• The Alberta NDP held its annual convention this past weekend. In her convention speech, Leader Rachel Notley notably criticized Premier Jason Kennney’s COVID-19 response and economic record. She also highlighted her party’s plan to create 60,000 jobs by making Alberta’s electricity grid a net-zero emitter of greenhouse gases by 2035.
• The Alberta Legislature will reconvene today to kick off the remaining two weeks of spring session.
• Premier Kenney struggled with a few controversies last week. Questions were raised about his adherence to public health protocols when the Premier was photographed dining outdoors with cabinet ministers and staff members. Kenney was also criticized for defending statues of Sir John A. Macdonald and criticizing “cancel culture” in wake of renewed focus on residential schools. Over the weekend, two cabinet ministers publicly expressed their frustrations and called for some accountability.

#BCpoli

• Two sitting weeks remain before the British Columbia Legislature adjourns for the summer. 
• Last Friday, the provincial government announced millions in additional funding to keep the Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant operating until the expected start of Step 3 of BC’s Restart plan on July 1, 2021.
• Last Wednesday, Premier John Horgan spoke with Prime Minister Trudeau in light of the tragedy surrounding the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. They discussed “the work both governments are doing to move forward on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, notably Calls 71 to 76 and the $27 million in federal funding announced by Minister Bennett to support Indigenous communities and partners in locating and memorializing children who died at residential schools.”
• On June 1, 2021 the general minimum wage in British Columbia increased to $15.20 an hour. 

#ATLpoli

• Premier Andrew Furey announced Newfoundland & Labrador’s reopening plan last Wednesday. The tourism-dependent province is planning on allowing non-essential travel from within Canada as early as July 1, 2021. 
• Nova Scotia entered the first phase of its reopening plan last Wednesday, as COVID-19 cases continue to decrease. Restaurant patios may now operate with proper distancing between tables and retail stores can reopen at 25% capacity.
• Last Monday, Newfoundland & Labrador Finance Minister Siobhan Coady delivered the 2021 budget. Despite a projected deficit of $826M, there were no income tax increases for anyone making less than $136,000.