What We’re Watching
- Concerns about election interference by the Chinese government continue to mount, with the election watchdog officially launching an investigation into the matter.
- Health minister Jean-Yves Duclos is disputing a claim he interfered with the work of the Patented Medicines Price Review Board (PMPRB), in a bid to delay reforms intended to bring down the cost of patented drugs.
In the House
- Bill C-27, the Consumer Privacy Protection Act, is currently at second reading.
- Bill C-33, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Railway Safety Act, is currently at second reading.
- Bill C-23, the Historic Places of Canada Act, is currently at second reading.
- Bill C-26, An Act respecting cyber security, is currently at second reading.
Committee Business
- CHPC will meet today to discuss the activities of Google in reaction to Bill C-18, the Online News Act.
- INDU will meet today to discuss Bill C-288, An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act and Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Copyright Act.
- AGRI will meet today to discuss food price inflation.
- FINA will meet on Tuesday to discuss Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2023 Budget.
- LANG will meet on Tuesday to discuss bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to the other Acts.
- NDDN will meet on Tuesday for a briefing on the surveillance balloon from the People’s Republic of China.
- HUMA will meet on Tuesday to discuss the National Housing Strategy.
- INDU will meet on Wednesday to discuss Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act.
In the Senate
- Bill C-18, the Online News Act, is currently at second reading.
- Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act, is currently at second reading.
- Bill C-39, the Medical Assistance in Dying Act, is currently at second reading.
Committee Business
- AFGO will meet on Tuesday to examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada.
- BANC will meet on Wednesday to discuss banking and commerce.
- ACVA will meet on Wednesday to examine issues relating to Veterans Affairs, including services provided, commemorative activities, and the implementation of Veteran’s Well-being Act.
- FAAE will meet on Wednesday to examine the Canadian foreign service and elements of the foreign policy machinery within Global Affairs Canada.
ICYMI
- Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly confronted her Chinese counterpart over allegations of election interference by the Chinese government.
- The commissioner of Canada Elections — the watchdog responsible for enforcing the Canada Elections Act — launched a review into foreign interference claims in the last two federal election campaigns.
- Federal Auditor-General Karen Hogan confirmed her office will launch an audit of the government’s ArriveCan app.
- The federal government is banning Chinese-owned social media app TikTok from all government mobile devices.
#ONPoli
- The Ontario Liberal Party held their annual general meeting in Hamilton over the weekend with over 1500 members attending, making it the largest OLP AGM in over 20 years.
- The Ontario Nurses’ Association says contract negotiations have broken down, and will now head to arbitration.
- Premier Doug Ford and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party held the largest political fundraiser in Canadian history on Thursday evening, bringing in a staggering $6 million.
#ABPoli
- The UCP government tabled its last budget before the upcoming spring election, posting a $2.4-billion surplus. The budget proposes requiring that one half of the province’s surpluses be used to repay debt maturing in the same fiscal year.
- Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Chief Allan Adam stated that he had not been notified by either Imperial Oil, or the Alberta government, that water tainted with dangerous levels of arsenic, dissolved metals and hydrocarbons, has been seeping from tailings at the Kearl oil sands project in Alberta’s North.
- UCP Government House Leader Joseph Schow indicated that he intends to introduce legislation that would subject federal officials to trespassing rules.
#BCPoli
- The BC Government tabled its budget last Tuesday. The budget includes provisions to make prescription contraception free to all residents.
- Premier David Eby stated last week that he wants tighter federal laundering laws after no charges were laid in the E-Nationalize investigation into millions of dollars that moved through BC casinos and Chinese bank accounts.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in BC last week for a number of events, including a meeting with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, and a joint announcement with Premier Eby and Minister Qualtrough.
#ATLPoli
- Education critics in Nova Scotia are arguing that the province needs to outline a clear plan for implementation if it hopes to change reading outcomes for young students with its new phonics-centered approach to literacy.
- New Brunswick Minister of Housing Jill Green announced that the New Brunswick Housing Corporation will become a crown corporation under her portfolio.
- Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was in Charlottetown Thursday to announce $48.8 million in support for the UPEI medical school currently under construction.
- The Newfoundland and Labrador government will spend what the transportation minister calls an “unprecedented” $225 million on highway construction this year, with an emphasis on upgrading infrastructure vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
