What We’re Watching
- With only two weeks left in the sitting calendar for 2022, the government is conducting a full court press to pass key legislation before the House of Commons rises for the holidays on December 16th.
- The Public Order Emergency Commission has concluded public hearings. Commissioner Paul Rouleau now has until February 20th to table his findings in the House of Commons.
In the House
- Today will see the beginning of debate at report stage and third reading of Bill C-32, the Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act.
- Thursday will be the final allotted day of the current supply period.
- INDU will meet today to discuss Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair).
- AGRI will meet today to discuss Food Price Inflation.
- PACP will meet Tuesday to discuss 2022 reports of the Auditor General.
- INDU will meet Thursday to discuss Blockchain Technology.
In the Senate
- This week, the Senate will begin second reading of Bill C-29, an act to provide for the establishment of a national council for reconciliation.
- SECD will meet today to discuss issues relating to security and defence in the Arctic.
- NFFN will meet Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss Bill C-32, The Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act.
ICYMI
- As of December 1st, federally regulated workers are now eligible for ten days of paid sick leave, thus fulfilling a Liberal campaign promise.
- United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai released a press release on Wednesday expressing concern that bills C-11 and C-18 discriminate against U.S. tech companies.
- RBC will buy HSBC’s Bank Canada for $13.5-billion in the biggest domestic banking deal on record. The acquisition now requires the approval of the Competition Bureau, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, and the federal Minister of Finance.
- On Friday, Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly announced new sanctions on members of the Iranian regime.
- The Canada Revenue Agency is now accepting applications from parents for the new children’s dental benefit, which was put forward as part of the government’s package of cost-of-living relief for low-income Canadians, fulfilling the initial step in a key policy plank from the Liberal-NDP confidence and supply agreement.
#ONpoli
- The Ontario Superior Court struck down Bill 124 last week. The bill, which caps public-sector worker raises to one per cent annually, was deemed a violation of collective bargaining rights protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Ontario government has stated it intends to appeal the decision, but Premier Doug Ford has ruled out using the notwithstanding clause to override the court.
- Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk released her annual report on Wednesday, outlining a number of issues with the province’s COVID-19 response and vaccine roll out, environmental protections, infrastructure planning, and power generation.
- Changes to the hiring of the Ontario’s sergeant-at-arms has the opposition up in arms, as newly introduced Bill 51 would see MPPs vote on who takes the role — a change the opposition says threatens the position’s independence.
- The deadline for candidates to register for the Ontario NDP leadership election is today. Davenport MPP and former education critic Marit Stiles is currently the only declared candidate.
#ABpoli
- Premier Danielle Smith’s first throne speech took place on Tuesday, with the main focus of the speech being combatting “unprecedented interference and overreach from Ottawa”. Affordability measures to address inflation were additionally touted as a key priority, all while pointing an accusatory finger at the federal government.
- The first bill introduced by Smith’s government in this new session of the legislature was the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act, which would enable the provincial government to deem federal laws unconstitutional, allow it to make unilateral changes to provincial legislation, and direct provincial entities to ignore “harmful” federal policies
- Former Premier Jason Kenney resigned as a member of the Alberta Legislature, announcing his resignation as his successor Danielle Smith tabled the Alberta Sovereignty Act, which he vehemently opposed. In his resignation letter he pointed to political polarization that he said is undermining democracy.
#BCpoli
- B.C.’s Medical Services Commission applied Thursday for an injunction against Telus Health’s LifePlus program in the B.C. Supreme Court, arguing the private, fee-based model which charges patients thousands per year contravenes the Medicare Protection Act.
- Advocates say Premier David Eby’s proposal to expand the scope of involuntary mental health treatment could further infringe on the rights of marginalized people.
- Premier Eby announced Monday the provincial government is providing up to $4.9 million in start-up funding for a new medical school at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Premier Eby in Richmond on Friday to provide an update on the federal government’s $10 per day child care program.
#ATLpoli
- The Nova Scotia government is entering into an agreement to buy the Lunenburg Foundry Shipyard. Economic Development Minister Susan Corkum-Greek stated it was vital to preserve the shipyard for current and future opportunities related to fishery, ocean technology, offshore wind energy development and other vessel maintenance.
- Nova Scotians remain highly satisfied with the provincial government’s performance led by Premier Tim Houston, with six in 10 Nova Scotians satisfied, according to the latest survey by Narrative Research
- New Brunswick economist Richard Saillant has pushed back against Jill Green, the minister responsible for housing and Service New Brunswick, who cited Saillant as an expert who opposes rent caps.
- John Risley, the billionaire businessman pushing to build a massive wind farm and hydrogen project on Newfoundland’s west coast, is defending his decision to fly members of Stephenville’s town council on his private jet.
