Key bills pass, feds present new policy in final days of House sitting
With the House of Commons set to adjourn for the summer on Wednesday, federal ministers are making last-minute legislative moves, including presenting a new disability benefit bill and updating Canada’s firearms policy, prompting the opposition parties to question the government’s priorities.
As MPs continue to work long hours to deal with as much outstanding parliamentary business as they can, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touted the latest policy initiatives his cabinet has advanced while he remains in quarantine.
On Tuesday morning, Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion Minister Carla Qualtrough tabled a bill that proposes to create a new disability benefit, for working-age Canadians, which would exist alongside existing disability support programs.
“The goal is to lift hundreds of thousands of people living with a disability out of poverty,” Trudeau said. The bill comes alongside a new “disability inclusion action plan,” a summer-long consultation process on future policy changes.
In a later press conference outlining the bill—which sets up a program modelled after the guaranteed income supplement for seniors—Qualtrough said that no one should be left behind in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
“The hope is to trigger a generational change to income support that will become part of our broader social system,” Qualtrough said.
Though Conservative critic Raquel Dancho questioned why the bill was coming “at the last possible minute, just hours before Parliament rises for the summer.”
Similarly, NDP MP Daniel Blaikie called the bill a “a thinly veiled attempt to hide the complete lack of urgency with which Liberals are treating this important issue.”
As well, with an existing legislative proposal to toughen gun laws and implement a prohibited firearm buyback program unlikely to pass before the House rises, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said pre-discussed measures to combat gun violence will soon come into effect.
“As of July 7th, when someone applies for a firearms licence, the background check will cover their whole life instead of just the last five years,” Trudeau said in first announcing the development, noting that additional regulations are rolling out that would make it a legal requirement for gun sellers to verify the buyer’s license and keep records of all firearms.
Blair said Tuesday afternoon that the policy changes will come through changes to regulations stemming from a 2019 update to Canada’s gun laws, with more policy changes expected this fall.
“It was our intention to bring forward these regulations within two years of royal assent of Bill C-71. We said at the time that the remaining elements… required spending authorities. We've, sought and obtained those spending authorities. It also requires regulatory changes and we are implementing those processes,” Blair said.
These two moves come as other ministers have also sought to put mandate-commitment initiatives in the window before the two-month summer hiatus. In addition to the disability and firearm policy updates, last week Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages Melanie Joly tabled an overhaul of the Official Languages act aimed at strengthening French protections.
And, Justice Minister David Lametti has given notice that he intends to soon table a new bill that would amend the Criminal Code and the Canadian Human Rights Act in regards to hate propaganda, hate crimes, and hate speech. The government has been promising to tackle so-called “online harms” and it’s expected this bill will be one piece of that plan.
While the government has presented these proposals, none are expected to actually advance before the end of the sitting on Wednesday, meaning the earliest they could become law would be in the fall when Parliament is scheduled to resume, barring an election call.
BROADCAST, LGBTQ2S+ BILLS PASS
Meanwhile, MPs have been burning the midnight oil in the House of Commons, with all sides expecting that despite how they’ve all recently voted, a pandemic election is on the horizon. Should a summer or fall campaign kick off, the 43rd Parliament would end, wiping clean from the slate any unpassed legislation.
In the early morning hours on Tuesday, the controversial Broadcasting Act update Bill C-10 from Heritage Minister Stephen Guilbeault passed the House and is now before the Senate for a fresh look that may not conclude before the upper chamber also adjourns for the summer.
After a tumultuous journey through the House, the legislation passed despite ardent opposition from the Conservatives who pushed without avail to reinstate a specific exemption for user-generated content that was the source of much of the concern around the bill.
“Shutting down debate on a bill widely condemned for its attacks on freedom of speech sets a very dangerous precedent. If this controversial bill is adopted, a Conservative government will stand up for Canadians and repeal this deeply flawed legislation,” said Conservative MP Alain Rayes in a statement.
And Tuesday afternoon—after the Liberals first attempt to advance the policy died when Trudeau prorogued last August—the government’s bill to stamp out conversion therapy passed with a vote of 263 to 63.
Bill C-6 as it’s called, proposes to prohibit unwanted religious counselling seeking to change a person's sexual orientation to heterosexual or gender identity to cisgender. While the majority of Conservative MPs voted against the bill after many of them tried to talk out the clock on the proposal, their leader Erin O’Toole joined the other party leaders and caucuses in voting to send the legislation to the Senate.
That leaves two outstanding “progressive” bills the Liberals have said are key priorities that they want to see passed before MPs rise or log off from the hybrid proceedings: Bill C-12, putting into law Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions targets, and Bill C-30, the budget implementation bill, which contains extensions of core pandemic subsidy supports. Both bills are set to come to a final vote before Wednesday's adjournment.
Tensions have been strained across the aisle in the last few weeks, with the Liberals accusing the Conservatives of habitual “purely partisan” obstruction and the opposition parties responding with criticism the government mismanaged its legislative agenda, seeing just eight government-sponsored non-COVID-19 aid or fiscal-focused bills pass through both the House and Senate since Trudeau was reduced to a minority government in the 2019 election.
During his COVID-19 address, the prime minister called on the Bloc Quebecois and New Democrats to work with the Liberals to pass as much as possible in the final hours of this session.
“I don’t know where he [Trudeau] was months ago, we could have gotten these things done,” said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh on CTV News Channel’s Power Play on Tuesday.
“There's always a back and forth in Parliament, there's always got to be debate and holding people to account and we welcome that and continue to, there's also a time to work together,” Trudeau said, dodging a question about whether the Liberals are setting the groundwork for calling an election on the basis of the legislative logjam.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.
Local Spotlight
'Best experience ever': B.C. baker on making it to the finals of Netflix's 'Is it Cake?'
When Jujhar Mann said he wanted to be a pastry chef on a grade school career project, he didn't imagine that pursuing his dream would land him on a popular Netflix baking competition.
Winnipeg chef delivers Manitoba cuisine to Houston diners
A city known for its history, ties to outer space and southern barbecue, is also home to a Winnipeg chef dishing out dozens of perogies.
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
Beyond books: Halifax libraries lends instruments, sports equipment, memory kits and more
Public libraries in Atlantic Canada are now lending a broader range of items.
'A special bird': The unbreakable bond between purple martins and humans
Flashes of purple darting across the sky mixed with the serenading sound of songs will be noticed more with spring in full force in Manitoba.
7-year-old Pokémon prodigy heading to Hawaii for world championship tournament
Catching 'em all with impressive speed, a 7-year-old boy from Windsor, Ont. who only started his competitive Pokémon journey seven months ago has already levelled up to compete at a world championship level.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
From DVDs to rehearsals: Halifax theatre company transforms Video Difference building into arts hub
2b Theatre recently moved into the old Video Difference building, seeking to transform it into an artistic hub, meeting space, and temporary housing unit for visiting performers in Halifax.
'Another pair of eyes watching over me:' How a B.C. woman's service dog saved her from drowning
A B.C. woman says her service dog pulled her from a lake moments before she had a seizure, saving her life.