What We’re Watching
- Last week, Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi stepped down from his roles as Parliamentary Secretary for the President of the King’s Privy Council and the Minister of Emergency Preparedness to explore the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party.
- On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named former governor general David Johnston as a special rapporteur to review the allegations of foreign election interference in the last two federal elections. Conservative and Bloc Québécois leaders are questioning Johnston’s connections to the Prime Minister and his ability to remain impartial.
- Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced $75.9 million in funding over three years to help the Canadian Transportation Agency address passenger-rights complaints and bolster the federal transportation network.
- The Superintendent of Financial Institutions took permanent control of assets belonging to Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) Canadian branch last Wednesday, granting orders to formally begin winding down the institution’s Canadian operations.
- Six provincial budgets will be tabled this week. Quebec and New Brunswick will unveil their budgets tomorrow. The Saskatchewan government will release theirs on Wednesday, followed by Ontario and Nova Scotia on Thursday. The week will conclude with Newfoundland and Labrador releasing its budget on Friday.
In the House
- Bill C-11, the Online Streaming Act, is at consideration in the House of Commons of amendments made by the Senate.
- Bill C-23, Historic Places of Canada Act, is currently at second reading.
- 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-26, An Act respecting cyber security, is currently at second reading.
Committee Business
- ENVI will meet today to discuss fossil fuel subsidies.
- INDU will meet today to discuss Bill C-288, An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act (transparent and accurate broadband information services).
- OGGO will meet today to continue discussing Federal Government Contracts Awarded to McKinsey & Company with Minister of Defense, Anita Anand, scheduled to testify.
- AGRI will meet today to discuss food price inflation.
- CACN will meet today to discuss Canada-People’s Republic of China Relations.
- TRAN will meet tomorrow to continue discussing Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
- FINA will meet tomorrow to discuss the current state of play on green finance and green investment.
- HUMA will meet tomorrow to discuss early learning and childcare in Canada.
- INAN will meet on Wednesday to discuss improving graduation rates for Indigenous students.
In the Senate
- Bill C-18, the Online News Act, is currently at second reading.
- Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Act, is being considered in committee.
- Bill C-29, the National Council for Reconciliation Act, is currently at second reading.
Committee Business
- SECD will meet today to discuss cyber threats to Canada’s defence infrastructure.
- TRCM will meet tomorrow to discuss Bill S-242, an Act to amend the Radiocommunications Act.
- APPA will meet tomorrow to examine the federal government’s constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and any other subject concerning Indigenous Peoples.
- SOCI will meet on Wednesday to discuss Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Act.
- AEFA will meet on Wednesday to discuss the Canadian foreign service and elements of the foreign policy machinery within Global Affairs Canada.
ICYMI
- Pierre Polilievre said he would pursue a $44 billion lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies that manufacture prescription drugs, in addition to joining British Columbia’s existing class-action lawsuit.
- Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin is suing the Prime Minister, the federal government, and several high-ranking military officials, claiming that his termination was politically motivated following his acquittal of sexual assault in December.
- Last week, a topless protester interrupted the Junos to bring attention to the Ontario government’s decision to allow development in the Greenbelt.
- Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced last Friday that international graduates with expired, or soon-to-be-expiring, work permits could apply for an extension for up to 18 additional months.
#ONPoli
- Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake released a statement announcing a temporary pause in his investigation into Premier Doug Ford’s daughter’s stag-and-doe event due to an overlap with the ongoing Greenbelt investigation.
- New Democrat Sarah Jama won the Hamilton Centre by-election last Thursday, replacing former Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath who stepped down following last summer’s provincial election.
- Ontario’s Long-term Care Minister Paul Calandra announced $1.25 billion in funding to hire healthcare workers that support long-term care residents.
- Labour Minister Monte McNaughton made a series of announcements last week regarding new legislation that will enhance workplace washroom requirements and increase job protections for military reservists being deployed or recovering from injuries as a result of their service.
- Last Friday, Ontario’s colleges signed on to a new standard of practice for international education to address international students’ challenges with employment, immigration, and program completion.
#ABPoli
- Federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault penned a letter asking Alberta environment minister Sonya Savage to set up a joint working group to monitor the oilsands and discuss improvements to remediation, containment, and communication with affected communities.
- The UCP released a report examining the impact of raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, stating the increase resulted in between 23,000 to 26,000 job losses among younger workers.
- Health Minister Jason Copping faced additional scrutiny for the government’s plan to import five million bottles of children’s acetaminophen from Turkey after a health bulletin announced that the medication was weaker in dosage than domestic products and would need to be stored behind the counter at community pharmacies.
- Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis announced that body cameras would become mandatory for all police officers in the province last week, raising questions about cost, access to information, and privacy rights.
#BCPoli
- Multiple B.C.-based tech firms are struggling to recover their assets and maintain operations after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last week.
- Last Tuesday, the provincial government announced the implementation of a new approvals framework for oil-and-gas projects to ensure they comply with B.C.’s climate commitments.
- Premier David Eby requested an intelligence briefing from CSIS after reports surfaced about the Chinese consulate’s possible involvement in the past municipal election were released. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim denounced discussions about election interference supporting his candidacy.
- Former Premier John Horgan announced he would formally resign his position and duties as an elected official on March 31, 2023.
#ATLPoli
- On Friday, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Health Minister Michelle Thompson invited nurses across the province to share their ideas for improving healthcare. The meeting was scheduled for Sunday, even though contract negotiations with nurses’ unions are still ongoing.
- The Nova Scotia government announced they would release the report from the public inquiry into the Truro mass shooting at the end of this month, stating the finalized version would be between 2,000 and 3,000 pages.
- Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey to celebrate the implementation of $10-a-day childcare, three years ahead of the original target.
- With the deadline for nominations last Friday, the PCs and NDP are the only two parties running a full slate of 27 candidates in the Prince Edward Island election scheduled for April 3rd. The Green Party and Liberal Party are running 25 candidates each.
