What We’re Watching
- The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, will make an announcement today regarding the modernization of continental defence capabilities
- Public Safety Minister Marco Mendocino remains under fire for discrepancies regarding who requested invoking the Emergencies Act. The RCMP and Ottawa police deny ever asking for such measures.
- In #CPCLDR news, Pierre Poilievre’s campaign asked the Commissioner of Canada Elections to investigate a report that Patrick Brown has Brampton city staff working on his leadership bid, Michelle Rempel Garner resigned from Brown’s campaign to consider her own leadership run, and new polling suggests Liberal and NDP voters prefer Jean Charest or Patrick Brown as the next Leader of the Opposition.
- At 9:00 a.m. EDT this morning, Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault will be announcing the government’s single-use plastics ban plan, with echo announcements held by ministers and MPs across the country.
- Government House Leader Mark Holland will hold a media availability at 9:30 a.m. EDT to highlight the government’s spring session accomplishments.
In the House
- Justice Minister David Lametti tabled a new bill that will likely be expedited this week which addresses the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that deemed the law prohibiting the use of extreme intoxication as a defence for some crimes as unconstitutional.
- This morning, the House will return to 2nd reading debate of Bill C-21, with respect to firearms. This afternoon, a deferred vote will be held on report stage of Bill -11, followed by debate at third reading (extended sitting hours until midnight) and a final vote in the Commons on Tuesday.
Legislation and Committee Updates
- Committees are busy at work this week, with eleven meetings scheduled for today and another ten for tomorrow.
- Today, LANG will discuss Bill C-13, HESA convenes regarding labour shortages in the healthcare sector and the COVID-19 situation, and CHPC will meet with officials from Hockey Canada and Minister St-Onge regarding the alleged 2018 sexual assaults.
- JUST meets tomorrow to discuss the government’s obligations to victims of crime, featuring an appearance from Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu. Also meeting tomorrow is OGGO on the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s report on Canada’s military expenditure.
- LANG will convene again on Wednesday on the topic of Bill C-13.
In the Senate
- A series of bills enter third reading this week, including S-4, S-6, S-7, C-24, and C-25. The most controversial of these is S-7, the government’s bill that amends the Customs Act outlining circumstances under which border officers can search personal digital devices like cellphones and laptops.
- Second reading and debate on C-5 and C-14 will continue this week.
- The Standing Committees on National Security and Defense, Human Rights, and Official Languages meet later today, with Bill C-13 up for discussion at 5:00 P.M.
- On Tuesday, the Standing Committee on National Finance will proceed with clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-19, the Budget Implementation Act.
- On Wednesday, the Standing Committee on Transport and Communications will meet to begin their pre-study of Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act.
ICYMI
- Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland delivered her first major speech since the budget on Thursday, outlining $8.9 billion in a new ‘Affordability Plan’ that repackaged previous commitments.
- The federal government announced it will be suspending its vaccine mandate for domestic and outbound international travel as of today, only days after announcing they would no longer require mandatory random testing at airports.
- Canada and Denmark resolved a half-century-old border dispute last Tuesday by trading bottles of whiskey and schnapps.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he tested positive for COVID again.
#ONpoli
- Premier Doug Ford is set to announce his cabinet picks as early as this week.
- The Ontario Liberal Party contemplates its future, and Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith contemplates running for the provincial party’s leadership.
- The Ontario NDP will select its interim leader after the provincial council meets on June 28. Veteran MPP Peter Tabuns is expected to fill the role.
#ABpoli
- The UCP released the rules for its leadership race last Tuesday, doubling its entrance fee to $150,000 and requiring a $25,000 deposit that will be refunded only if candidates comply with the code of conduct. Supporters have until August 12th to purchase a valid membership and cast their vote through either a mail-in or in-person ballot. The next leader will be elected on October 6, 2022.
- The leadership ballot is as diverse as it is crowded: The list includes former Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and the Status of Women, Leela Aheer, Independent MLA, Todd Loewen, Travis Toews, Rajan Sawhney and Rebecca Shulz (all of whom recently resigned from cabinet to pursue their bids), former Wild Rose Party leaders Danielle Smith and Brian Jean, and Mayor of the village of Amisk, Bill Rock. Calgary MP Michelle Rempel Garner is also rumoured to throw her hat in the ring soon.
- The Alberta NDP is making headlines, too, for joining forces with the UCP and Albertan livestock producers to request an exemption for ground beef labelling requirements. They also face internal staff and volunteer complaints, as well as a final verdict on MLA Thomas Dang’s criminal investigation.
#BCpoli
- Last weekend, delegates at the BC Liberal convention voted to approve a process that may result in a party name-change by the end of the year. Members can provide feedback through an online consultation portal.
- The final report from the public inquiry into money laundering was released last Wednesday. It cited federal anti-money laundering efforts through FINTRAC as ineffective, and called for a dedicated provincial money laundering investigative unit.
#ATLpoli
- Once destined to become a golf course, Owls Head is Nova Scotia’s newest provincial park. The decision is a relief for many local conservationists after years of advocacy against commercial development on the shoreline.
- The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador ruled that the law that allowed Canada Post to search a parcel containing cocaine violates the charter right to privacy. A package that contained cocaine was searched by an inspector in 2021.
- Former Malpeque Liberal MP Wayne Easter continued advocating to reverse splitting the province of P.E.I. into two EI zones. He argues that this will make it challenging for some to qualify for support.
