What We’re Watching
- A security scare outside of Parliament Hill on Saturday has resulted in the launch of a “massive” national security investigation, according to law enforcement officials.
- In an effort to resolve backlogs at airports across Canada, the federal government announced Friday that it will pause random testing on arrival for vaccinated travellers between now and July 1st. There is mounting pressure from opposition parties and industry stakeholders to lift the remaining COVID-19 restrictions for travel.
- The race for Conservative leadership continues as memberships now need to be certified by party officials. Returning officers will receive voter lists by July 8, and the party released a statement confirming that its party membership list is over 600 000.
- There are over 100 confirmed cases of Monkeypox across Canada, with most in Quebec and the remaining few in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta.
- Canada will be the first country to mandate health warnings on individual cigarettes, with the changes expected to come into effect in 2023.
In the House
- This week, the House will focus on debating Government Motion No. 16 regarding proceedings for Bill C-11 (changes to the Broadcast Act), and continue its work on bills C-5 (which would repeal mandatory minimum sentences), C-11, and C-14 (dealing with changes to medical assistance in dying).
- Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino is introducing a bill on cybersecurity today.
Legislation and Committee Updates
- The meeting schedule is filling up, with ETHI, HESA, and CACN set to meet today in addition to REGS, which is conducting a review of Statutory Instruments today.
- ENVI, INDU, and PACP will convene on Tuesday.
- LANG will meet on Wednesday to discuss Bill C-13 (which deals with changes to Canada’s official languages law).
- The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has yet to reach a consensus on when to investigate the 2018 sexual assault allegations connected to Hockey Canada.
In the Senate
- Several Senate and House bills are at Second Reading this week, including bills S-9, S-10, C-19, C-24, and C-25.
Senate Legislation and Committee Updates
- The Standing Committee on Official Languages meets today to discuss Bill C-13, featuring an appearance from the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The Standing Committees on National Defence, Human Rights, and Legal and Constitutional Affairs will also convene today.
- The Standing Committee on National Finance will convene tomorrow to discuss Bill C-19.
ICYMI
- Bill C-19, the Budget Implementation Act, was adopted at Third Reading last week and will now be considered by the Senate. C-19 is considered a priority to pass ahead of the summer recess.
- Prime Minister Trudeau attended the Summit of the Americas this week, where he met with North and South American leaders to discuss regional issues. At the summit, Canada committed to increasing investments towards irregular migration, welcoming 4000 additional migrants from the region by 2028, and strengthening its environmental partnership with California.
- Last Thursday, the Parliamentary Budget Officer released its report analyzing Canada’s military expenditure and found that Canada would need to spend between $13 and $18 billion more annually over the next five years to reach the 2% GDP spending target recommended by NATO.
- The Bank of Canada released its annual Financial System Review last Thursday. The publication highlighted that elevated levels of household debt and high house prices remain two critical interconnected vulnerabilities.
Provincial Updates
#ONPoli
- As Premier Ford begins his second term, he is expected to announce new cabinet positions sometime before the end of June. Ontarians can anticipate a more diverse cabinet, according to party insiders.
- Most remaining mask mandates expired this past weekend, including on public transit.
- Following Steven Del Duca’s resignation as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, federal MP for Beaches–East York Nathaniel Erskine Smith shared last Thursday that he is “seriously considering” running for the position.
#ABPoli
- As the UCP leadership race continues, federal MP for Calgary Nose Hill Michelle Rempel Garner is in talks about joining the ever-expanding field.
#BCPoli
- The BC Liberals had their party convention this past weekend, where delegates voted in favour of a process that would allow the Party to change its name. The name change is a pillar in party leader Kevin Falcon’s commitment to renew and rebrand the party.
#ATLPoli
- The second airlift of Ukrainian refugees will arrive in Newfoundland and Labrador tomorrow.
- An external panel comprised of health experts, scholars, and community leaders will conduct a review on the performance of public and private long-term care homes in PEI during the pandemic.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey stated his intention to release a widely-discussed report detailing workplace harassment and bullying by an officer of the House of Assembly at Elections Newfoundland and Labrador.