MP Arnold Chan delivers moving speech on elevating debate in the House of Commons, recognizes Elizabeth

On June 12th, Liberal MP Arnold Chan, who has been battling cancer, stood and delivered a moving speech in the House of Commons, appealing to parliamentarians to elevate their debate and practice, and to citizens to value their democracy. He also gave a gracious “shout-out” to Elizabeth (starting at 07:23). Both his full speech and ...

Questioning Canada’s lack of engagement in nuclear disarmament negotiations

Elizabeth May Mr. Speaker, I completely support the supply day motion. I first raised this issue in the House on October 25, 2016, that these negotiations were to begin, and that Canada should play a leadership role. I raised it again on February 22, 2017. I am very concerned that Canada is not there. I ...

Challenging the government to take concrete and meaningful steps to meet our Paris obligations

Elizabeth May  Mr. Speaker, I rise to pursue a question that I asked in question period not that long ago, on Friday, June 2. I suppose it is now June 9. Though the Table still says it is June 8, it is a bit after midnight. The context of my question to the Minister of ...

Statement on World Oceans Day 2017

(OTTAWA) – Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands), released the following statement on World Oceans Day: “Threats to our oceans are increasing due to the adverse effects of climate change including the rise in ocean temperatures, ocean and coastal acidification, deoxygenation, sea-level rise, the decrease in polar ice coverage, coastal erosion, ...

Lyme Disease Update – Federal Framework Released

Dear Friends and Supporters, I am writing to inform you that Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, has tabled the Federal Framework on Lyme Disease in Parliament. For many of us, this road has been a long and difficult one. For me it started almost ten years ago when I met Brenda Sterling in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. I wondered ...

Elizabeth’s Submission to the Poverty Reduction Consultation

PDF of submission available for download here. Text of submission below. Submission in Response to the Poverty Reduction Consultation To: The Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Employment and Social Development Canada From: Elizabeth May, O.C. Member of Parliament Saanich-Gulf Islands Date: June 5, 2017 Dear Minister Duclos, Thank you for ...

The US “exit” from the Paris Agreement + questioning continued tariffs for solar energy

Elizabeth May Mr. Speaker, I certainly welcome the resolution from the government today on the ongoing commitment of the Canadian government to the Paris agreement. We had already voted in this place and confirmed our support as a Parliament. I quibble with the introduction, because as much as President Trump announced from the rose garden ...

Raising concerns over the use of time allocation, especially on omnibus bills

Elizabeth May Mr. Speaker, we are seeing far more uses of time allocation than I ever thought I would see from a new Liberal government, particularly when I read the mandate letters that went to all the ministers that spoke to respect for the members of the opposition parties and respectful debate in this place. ...

Critiquing Bill C-44, an omnibus budget bill that limits parliamentary debate

Elizabeth May I now have the honour of debating the omnibus budget bill, Bill C-44, at report stage. I find this so ironic, because I truly believed that the era of the omnibus budget bill would end when the new Liberal government took power. In fact, the new government promised that it would not use ...

Are air passengers’ rights adequately protected when airlines sell more tickets than there are seats available?

Elizabeth May Mr. Speaker, I have a question to ask my colleague, since the bill seeks to amend the Canada Transportation Act. My question is about protecting the rights of air passengers. Does the member think that these rights are adequately protected when airlines sell more tickets than there are seats available? Robert Aubin – ...