A House on Holiday – Your Final Sitting Week in the Rearview Mirror

COVID-19 Update

• Many regions are experiencing a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases due to the heightened transmissibility of the novel Omicron variant. Nova Scotia, in particular, has been registering record-setting case counts. Meanwhile, the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington Public Health Region is confronting the highest incidence rate in Canada.
• In response, several provincial governments announced new restrictions on Thursday and Friday of this past week: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia all introduced tighter capacity limits. On Sunday, Newfoundland and Labrador issued new restrictions and mandated incoming travellers to self-isolate for five days upon arrival. As premiers eye the communal nature of the holiday season, provincial public health measures will evolve rapidly in the coming days.
• At the federal level, on Friday, December 17th, Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos announced stronger travel-related testing requirements. In light of the global spread of the Omicron variant, restrictions against the ten previously-targeted countries have been lifted. This measure has been succeeded by a mandated “pre-arrival negative PCR test result for all travellers leaving the country for less than 72 hours” and increased entry-point testing supplies. The government advisory against non-essential international travel remains in effect. 

Last Week in the House of Commons

• On Thursday, December 17th, with mere minutes to go in the sitting period and the looming threat of the new variant, the House of Commons passed Bill C-2 at third reading. The legislation, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19, was sponsored by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland. The aid package passed with 190 MPs voting in favour and 140 MPs voting against the bill— its successful adoption owed largely to the support of the Bloc Québécois.
• Later on Thursday, the second priority bill of the Liberal government — Bill C-3 — was fast-tracked through the chamber. Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code, was sponsored by Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan. The bill provides 10 days of paid sick leave for federally regulated employees and imposes criminal penalties for harassing health care workers. In an impressive display of multi-partisanship, a unanimous consent motion ordered that the bill be immediately considered at the third reading stage, and deemed to have been concurred in at report stage, with the amendments Mr. Mark Holland tabled earlier in the day.
  • Bill C-3 was passed with important modifications, which provide 10 days of bereavement leave for employees who have lost a member of their immediate family. Subsection 210(1) was also changed to entitle every employee to a leave of absence of up to eight weeks, should they lose a child or experience the stillbirth of an infant. 
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s mandate letters to his ministers were publicly released on Thursday, December 16th. Mandate letters outline the objectives and challenges assigned to each minister within the Prime Minister’s Cabinet. 
• With the banning of conversion therapy; the provision of 10 days of paid sick leave for all federally regulated workers; the protection of persons accessing health care facilities from criminal harassment; and pandemic supports to the tourism, hospitality, and other affected industries, the Liberals successfully passed their legislative priorities for the brief fall sitting (19 sitting days).

Last Week In the Senate

• Late in the evening on Thursday, December 16th, the Senate accelerated its passage of Bill C-2. In quick succession, the bill was read a first, second and third time, then passed without amendment. The final vote count showed that 57 Senators voted in favour of the motion, and 15 Senators voted against its passage. 
• On Friday, December 17th, the Senate adopted Bill C-3 at third reading without amendment. 

Last Week in Committees

• All standing and special committees have now elected their respective chairs. Notable selections include two former Trudeau cabinet ministers. Marc Garneau and Jim Carr were elected the Chair of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, and the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, respectively.
• The new Standing Committee on Science and Research was formed last week. Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Kristy Duncan became the first elected official to chair the new body.
• The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills, and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) began its study of Bill C-3 this week. Minister Seamus O’Regan, who sponsored Bill C-3 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code – appeared before the committee last Monday.
• Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez also appeared before the House Finance committee on Monday and responded to a series of questions challenging Bill C-2’s support measures for those in the pandemic-affected arts and culture industry. 
• The Standing Committee on International Trade agreed to begin its study on the domestic industrial impacts of new American protectionist trade policies.

Coming Up in the New Year

• The House of Commons will return Monday, January 31, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. 
• The Leader of the Government, Mark Holland, in his weekly statement on the business of the House, stated that a take-note debate on Saskatchewan constitutional questions will be occurring in February.
• Bill C-5, which amends the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, by repealing mandatory minimum penalties for certain drug and firearm offences, was introduced on December 7th. It is currently at second reading in the House of Commons, and will, in all likelihood, progress to a third reading and vote in the first quarter of 2022. 
• The Government of Canada is planning to host three national summits early in the new year:
  1. Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, plans to hold a two-day national summit on January 31 and February 1, 2022, on pandemic recovery for the arts, culture and heritage sectors.
  2. Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, announced that he will host a National Supply Chain Summit in early 2022
  3. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, will host a National Housing Supply Summit.
• The World Economic Forum said this morning that it was postponing its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from next month to “early summer,” citing the spread of the Omicron variant. The move suggests new uncertainties for business travel, yet another headache for C.E.O.s amid rising case counts and new questions about government efforts to contain the coronavirus. Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures are down sharply, following European and Asian markets.

Private Members’ Bills

• The order of precedence determines the order in which the House of Commons will consider items of private members’ business. The order of precedence will be determined on Tuesday, February 8th, barring any changes in the House sitting calendar.
• In total, 23 Private Members’ Bills have been introduced since this session of Parliament began on November 22, 2021. Of these, 19 are affiliated with the NDP, two with the Conservatives, one with the Green Party, and one with the governing Liberal Party.
• Bill C-211, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (bereavement leave), was introduced and completed its first reading in the House of Commons on December 13th. This bill was sponsored by Conservative Member of Parliament Tom Kmiec. It was added to Bill C-3 in a last-minute, Liberal-Conservative negotiated amendment, and thereby passed. 

#ONPoli 

• The Legislative Assembly of Ontario will return Tuesday, February 22nd. 
• With the continued rise of COVID-19 cases in the province, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced new restrictions on Friday, December 17th. As of Sunday, December 19, at 12:01 a.m., indoor gathering limits will decrease from 25 to 10 people, outdoor gathering limits will be capped to 25 people, and capacity limits of 50% will be instituted in most indoor settings. Additionally, alcohol sales will be restricted past 10 p.m., and bars, restaurants, and strip clubs must close by 11 p.m. 

#BCPoli 

• The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia will return Tuesday, February 8th. 
• On Friday, December 17th, Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, announced new restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the province. As of Monday, December 20th, indoor gatherings are restricted to one household — plus either 10 other individuals, or one additional household — provided all attendees are vaccinated. Additionally, the proof of vaccination program will be expanded to all organized events, and event operators will be required to use the QR code with proof of vaccination. 

#ABPoli 

• The Legislative Assembly of Alberta will return in February. This past week, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced that the limit on the number of households that can gather indoors has been removed, in anticipation of the holidays. The total number of individuals present, however, can’t exceed 10 people. The government of Alberta is also expanding the accessibility of rapid tests and booster shots in the province. 

#ATLPoli 

Legislative Returns:

• The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick will return Tuesday, March 22nd.
• The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly will return Tuesday, March 15th.
• The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island will return Tuesday, February 22nd.
• The date of the Nova Scotia Legislature’s return has not yet been announced, but it will be communicated by the Speaker of the House at least thirty days in advance.