Week in Review: July 20 – 24 (le français suit)
This week, MPs were called to the House earlier than expected on Monday to debate Bill C-20. Debate lasted for two days and the bill was passed on Tuesday. The passage of this bill expands the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and extends it until December 21, 2020. It also makes a one-time payment of $600 available to Canadians receiving disability benefits, and extends certain legal deadlines in response to the pandemic.
Jenica drove from New Brunswick to attend the in-person meeting in the House to debate this bill. In her question, she asked the Minister of Finance how the upcoming budget would account for the climate crisis. In her response to the bill, she blamed partisan politics as the reason why Canadians with disabilities waited so long before finally receiving financial aid, and she challenged her colleagues to do better. She also called for a Guaranteed Livable Income as a safety net for all Canadians, and pressed the government to begin virtual voting so that Parliament can continue to pass legislation during the pandemic while keeping MPs, their staff and communities, safe.
On Wednesday, Jenica participated in a rally outside Parliament for rent relief for Canadians. Then, during the session that afternoon Jenica recognized the incredible work of Canada’s Public Service through the pandemic and the rising urgency of backlogs across government departments. Canadians lives are on hold waiting for decisions from Service Canada, the CRA, Veterans Affairs, Immigration and Refugees Canada, and other federal departments. She urged the government to equip and empower federal employees to get through these backlogs and get Canadians the help they need.
This week, Elizabeth was able to question witnesses by Zoom in two committees, participating in the Finance Committee hearings into the WE Charity scandal, as well as hearings in the Fisheries Committee on the threats to Pacific Salmon. She was also interviewed on CTV regarding the WE scandal.
Early this week Paul met with representatives from Clean Prosperity, a non-profit group advocating for increases to the carbon tax and direct payment rebates, so all Canadians can see the benefit. On Wednesday he met with Nanaimo lawyer Robert Laurie, who is on the legal team of Therapsil, a non-profit coalition of healthcare professionals, patients, and advocates working to help palliative care patients obtain legal access to psilocybin-assisted therapy for end-of-life anxiety and distress. Thursday afternoon Paul was invited to participate in the second session of the Young Canadians Parliament, an event designed to encourage Canadian youth to become self-advocates for political action on issues that impact them. Paul has two more upcoming Community Conversations scheduled on July 29th and August 5th. Visit his website for details.
The next scheduled sitting of the House will be held on August 12. Until then, thanks for reading the Green Caucus Week in Review.
Key Moments
Question Period and Member’s Statements
Statements and Press Releases
In Their Own Words
Petitions
E-petitions open for signature
Good Sunday Morning – January 24
January 24th, 2021
Good Sunday Morning – January 10
January 10th, 2021
Good Sunday Morning – Jan 3
January 3rd, 2021
Good Sunday Morning – December 13
December 13th, 2020
Good Sunday Morning – December 6
December 6th, 2020
Good Sunday Morning – November 29
November 29th, 2020
Greens raising alarm on rapid erosion of public transportation across Canada
January 25th, 2021
Green Party urges focus and collaboration as MPs return to Parliament
January 24th, 2021
Greens join in multi-party press conference to mark the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons coming into force
January 21st, 2021
Green MPs Elizabeth May and Jenica Atwin recognized in Maclean’s 12th annual Parliamentarians of the Year awards
January 13th, 2021
Green Party condemns steady erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong
January 6th, 2021
Green Party Leader Annamie Paul calls on Prime Minister to Convene Emergency First Ministers Meeting on the Humanitarian Crisis in Long-Term Care
January 5th, 2021
‘Twas just weeks before Christmas…
December 9th, 2020
Elizabeth asks Environment Minister to close Basel Convention loophole
December 9th, 2020
Elizabeth’s statement on the 50th anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women
December 7th, 2020
Green Caucus letter to Mins. Bains and O’Regan re: Small Modular Reactors
November 9th, 2020
Green Caucus stands in solidarity with pro-democracy protests in Bulgaria
September 14th, 2020
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