What We’re Watching
- The inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act finally completed its hearings last week, with many key witnesses testifying including the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, numerous cabinet members, and top officials from CSIS.
- Last week, the Bank of Canada published a research paper estimating that up to 65% of variable mortgage rate holders will hit their ‘trigger rate’ in the upcoming year as central banks continue to rise interest rates to rein in inflation.
- In response to media coverage about potential foreign interference, Elections Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer stated he hasn’t received any reports about China regarding the 2019 federal election.
- Bill C-11: Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez acknowledged that the bill could lead social media outlets to tweak algorithms to comply with government regulations. This comes after concerns were raised about whether the legislation will see undue pressure from the government to manipulate the sorting of digital content accessible to Canadians.
In the House
- Bill C-13, an Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages, is currently being considered at committee.
- Bill C-18, the Online News Act, is currently being considered at committee.
- Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act, is currently being considered in committee.
- Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Implementation Act, is at second reading.
- Bill C-32, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, is currently being considered in committee.
- Bill C-33, the Strengthening the Port System and Railway Safety in Canada Act, is at second reading.
- Bill C-233, the Building a Green Prairie Economy Act, is at report stage in the House of Commons.
- Bill C-244, an Act to Amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance, and repair), is currently being considered at committee.
Committee Updates
- FEWO will meet on Monday to discuss resource development and violence against Indigenous women and girls.
- INAN will meet on Monday to discuss Arctic sovereignty and security issues.
- TRAN will meet on Monday to discuss air passenger protection regulations.
- AGRI will meet on Monday to discuss the Ukrainian goods remission order.
- ETHI will meet on Monday to discuss privacy concerns relating to the ArriveCAN app, ATIP systems, and committee business.
- HUMA will meet on Monday to discuss labour shortages and working conditions in the care economy as well as how to better support Black Canadian communities.
- FINA will meet on Monday to discuss Bill C-32, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act.
- CIIT will meet on Tuesday to discuss the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act.
- NDDN will meet on Tuesday to discuss Arctic security.
- FOPO will meet on Tuesday to discuss the impacts of the climate crisis on Canadian fisheries and oceans.
- FEWO will meet on Thursday to discuss women and girls in sport.
In the Senate
- Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, is currently being considered at committee in the Senate.
Committee Updates
- BANC will meet on Thursday to discuss general matters related to banking and commerce.
- NFFN will meet on Tuesday to discuss Bill C-32, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act.
- SECD will meet on Monday to discuss security and defence in the Arctic.
- SOCI will meet on Wednesday to discuss issues related to social affairs, science, and technology in general.
- TRCM will meet on Tuesday to discuss Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act.
ICYMI
- Canada and the U.S. launched a pilot project offering alternative options hoping to address the growing backlog of stalled Nexus applicants.
- Parliament passed a unanimous motion Tuesday condemning FIFA’s decision to threaten on-field punishment if soccer players in the World Cup wear armbands supportive of the LGBTQ community.
- The federal government announced details of the new Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) grant aimed at helping low and middle-income households make the switch from oil to heat pumps.
- Text messages between Justice Minister David Lametti and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendocino raised some eyebrows when tabled at the inquiry into the use of the Emergency Act last week.
- BloombergNEF ranked Canada as the second battery-supply chain-producing country in the world, encouraging Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne to champion Canada’s capacity while overseas last week.
Provincial Updates
#ONPoli
- Education workers across Ontario will be voting Thursday through to Dec. 5 to ratify a tentative deal with the province that mitigated continuing strike measures.
- As the deadline for the Ontario NDP leadership race approaches, Marit Styles is the only candidate to declare thus far.
- In a Wednesday morning statement, commissioner Justice William Hourigan announced the report from the public inquiry into Ottawa’s dysfunctional LRT network would be released on Nov. 30, 2022.
- The director of Ontario’s primary healthcare branch sent a letter requesting healthcare workers to take on evening and weekend shifts to help ease the burden on overwhelmed pediatric hospitals last week.
#ABPoli
- In a televised address Tuesday evening, Premier Danielle Smith announced $2.4B worth of financial aid to help Albertans with the affordability crisis brought on by inflation.
- Environment Minister Sonya Savage hinted at forthcoming plans to legally challenge the federal government’s cap on oil and gas emissions, arguing the cap would violate provincial jurisdiction.
#BCPoli
- Premier Eby announced the introduction of the first provincial housing minister in advance of cabinet appointments on December 7, 2022.
- In his first speech since being sworn in as Premier, Eby said he would “never invoke the notwithstanding clause to end a labour dispute” at the BC Federation of Labour convention last week.
- The B.C. government’s plans to confiscate “unexplained wealth orders” as suspected profit from criminal activity received mixed responses from critics and experts.
#ATLPoli
- Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador will have to implement the federal carbon tax after both provinces failed to meet the requirements of instituting provincial measures.
- Nova Scotia’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Tim Halman came under fire for leading a fundraising campaign against a federal carbon tax before the announcement was made.
