What We’re Watching
- Last Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Freeland warned Canadians of difficult days ahead, referencing signs of weakness in the Canadian economy.
- As part of the Emergencies Act inquiry, it was revealed that Prime Minister Trudeau had privately accused Ontario Premier Doug Ford of “hiding” amidst claims that the Ford government turned down an appeal to help Ottawa with the Freedom Convoy last February. The Emergencies Act inquiry is ongoing.
- House of Commons committees saw a restructuring last week as new positions were announced.
- OGGO is currently studying the $54 million price tag of the ArriveCAN App. One witness from a tech firm that was listed as having received an ArriveCAN contract testified that they never worked on the app.
In the House
- Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada, is being considered in CHPC.
- Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing, is being considered in HESA.
- Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, is being considered in OLLO.
Committee Updates
- JUST will meet today to discuss Bill C-28, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (self-induced extreme intoxication).
- AGRI will meet today to discuss Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.
- HESA will meet today to discuss Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing.
- OLLO will meet today to discuss Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act.
- TRCM will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act.
In the Senate
- Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act, is at the second reading stage in the Senate.
- Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act, regarding violence against an intimate partner, is at the second reading stage.
- Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, is currently undergoing pre-study in the Senate.
ICYMI
- Alistair MacGregor’s motion to study the rising cost of groceries amidst inflation passed unanimously in the House last week.
- The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth Truss, announced she was stepping down on Thursday. She is the fourth Conservative leader since 2016.
- At the Canadian Climate Institute’s conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Trudeau guaranteed that Canada would meet its latest climate target. The target set for 2030 requires Canada to reduce emissions to 55 to 60 percent of what they were in 2005.
#ONPoli
- Premier Ford joined Prime Minister Trudeau this week at the headquarters of Nokia Canada to announce a $70 million expansion of the company’s Kanata campus to help advance 5G technology.
- Ontario has eliminated one of its final provincial mask mandates. As of last Friday, long-term care homes will no longer require visitors to wear masks when alone with a resident in their room.
- On Thursday, Ontario’s Education Minister announced new direct payments of $200 to $250 for parents, encouraging them to use the money to help with students’ learning recovery.
- The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario met at the Toronto Congress Centre this past weekend. On the agenda was a fireside chat with Premier Ford and other Conservative Premiers, including Blaine Higgs, Scott Moe, and Tim Houston, and saw the PCs elect a new party president.
- Municipal elections wrap up today in the province with many keeping an eye on former provincial leaders Andrea Horwath and Steven Del Duca. They are vying for the top jobs in Hamilton and Vaughan respectively.
- The Legislature resumes tomorrow and will see the introduction of new legislation by housing minister Steve Clark intended to create incentives for homeowners to build rental suites, enable construction of duplexes and triplexes without municipal approval, address ‘renovictions’, and expand strong mayoral powers.
#ABPoli
- Premier Smith apologized for comments she made about the invasion of Ukraine. In April, Smith said that the only answer for Ukraine is neutrality and that she understood why Russia would be concerned with a western-aligned Ukraine armed with nuclear weapons.
- Alberta’s new cabinet was revealed on Friday with a mix of fresh faces and continuity. Kaycee Madu and Nathan Neudorf have both been named deputy premiers.
- The NDP and UCP held simultaneous party conventions this past weekend, highlighting nearly identical priorities in advance of the upcoming 2023 election.
#BCPoli
- On Friday, the BC NDP officially declared David Eby, former attorney general and housing minister, as its new Leader. As BC NDP Leader, Eby becomes premier-designate and will officially be sworn in later this fall.
- The only other candidate, Anjali Appadurai, was disqualified by the party’s chief electoral officer on Wednesday night after claims that she improperly used 3rd parties for membership sales. Appardurai states that she did nothing wrong.
#ATLPoli
- On Monday, Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray and ACOA Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor announced that $100 million in funding would be provided by the federal government to support the immediate and urgent work on the recovery of lost fishing gear and repairs of small craft harbours damaged by Hurricane Fiona.
- The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador received over 200 emails from doctors voicing their frustrations about working in the province, after the Premier asked them to contact him directly. Many challenges listed include lower pay, child-care concerns, and a lack of effective recruitment strategies.
