What We’re Watching
- Canada has summoned China’s ambassador over allegations that a Chinese diplomat planned to intimidate an MP and his family.
- Canada announced it will distribute 30,000 coronation medals to honour Canadians who have made “significant contributions to the country, a province, territory, region or community.”
- The Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has opened a public consultation on whether to ban Fox News from the airwaves following a complaint made by a Toronto-based LGBTQ2 advocacy group.
In the House
- Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, is currently at report stage.
- Bill C-35, the Canada Early Learning and Childcare Act, completed committee considerations and is now at report stage.
- Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act, is currently being considered in committee.
- Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair), is currently 12th in the order of precedence.
Committee Updates
- CHPC will meet today to discuss the tech giants’ use of intimidation tactics.
- CIIT will meet today to discuss non-tariff barriers in Canada’s international trade agreements.
- CACN will meet today to discuss Canada–People’s Republic of China relations.
- DEDC will meet on Tuesday to discuss the Declaration of Emergency of February 2022.
- HUMA will meet on Friday to discuss the National Housing Strategy.
In the Senate
- Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, is currently at Senate pre-study.
- Bill C-18, the Online News Act, is currently under consideration in committee.
- Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Act, is currently under consideration in committee.
- Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act, is currently being considered in committee.
Committee Updates
- SECD will meet today to discuss Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act.
- TRCM will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss Bill C-18, An Act respecting online communications platforms that make news content available to persons in Canada.
- POFO will meet on Tuesday to discuss Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act.
- DEDC will meet on Tuesday to discuss the Declaration of Emergency of February 2022.
- BANC will meet on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss cryptoassets as part of Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act.
- NFFN will meet on Wednesday to discuss Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act.
- SOCI will meet on Thursday to discuss Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act.
ICYMI
- The Liberal Party of Canada held its three-day in-person convention in Ottawa in an effort to galvanize the base.
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the appointment of Jane MacAdam and Iris Petten to the Senate to fill vacancies for Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, respectively.
- Bonnie Crombie, Stephanie Bowman, Adil Shamji, Yasir Naqvi, Ted Hsu, and Nate Erskine-Smith were among the prospective leadership candidates for the Ontario Liberal Party shaking hands at the Liberal Party of Canada convention last week.
- Alexandre Trudeau, the younger brother of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, testified in front of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics last week, which is studying allegations of foreign interference by China.
- On Friday, the World Health Organization announced that it was downgrading the COVID-19 pandemic from a global emergency to a global health threat.
- The US Federal Reserve raised their key interest rate by a quarter-point, bringing interest rates to a 16-year high. Meanwhile, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem defended his strategy for Canada.
- Last Thursday, the Parliamentary Budget Officer released a report estimating the cost of the new grocery rebate to be $2.4 billion in 2023-24.
Provincial Updates
#ONPoli
- Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie is considering entering the race for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, as Premier Ford launched municipal audits due to ongoing concerns surrounding the provincial housing law.
- Ontario’s education minister Stephen Lecce asked teachers’ unions to accept private mediation as discussions continue.
- The Ontario Government announced mandatory mental health lessons in Grade 10 while also boosting curriculum resources for kids in Grades 7 and 8.
- The Ontario Government issued bids to expand its production away from gas-fired power plants to electricity, while some units of the province’s nuclear stations are down for refurbishment.
- MPP Mitzie Hunter announced she will resign on May 10th to concentrate on her mayoral bid, while Olivia Chow’s campaign support continued to grow.
#ABPoli
- With week one of the Alberta election campaign in the books, the battle intensifies in seat-rich Calgary.
- The government of Alberta declared a state of emergency as 36 of the 392 wildfires are considered out of control by Alberta Wildfire.
- Danielle Smith said she won’t campaign on sovereignty legislation, provincial police or the Alberta pension plan.
- Both United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith and NDP Leader Rachel Notley made campaign stops in Calgary.
#BCPoli
- The BC government announced a $480 million investment to train and re-train workers in the construction, technology, housing and clean energy sectors.
- The BC government introduced a rapid response training program which includes up to $3,500 in grant funding per student and greater interest-free student loans.
#ATLPoli
- Snow crab prices have dropped in Newfoundland and Labrador as Japan may be buying Russian snow crabs instead of the Canadian alternative.
- The environment minister of Nova Scotia announced the Higgins Mountain and the Wedgeport wind farm projects, which will see up to 30 turbines erected.
The New Brunswick government introduced rent control legislation in December, but owners are reportedly exploiting loopholes.