Week in Review: June 8 – 12 (le français suit)
This week, Green MPs launched Reimagining our Future: Reconnected, Renewed, Resilient, a vision for Canada’s post-pandemic future. Reimagining our Future is a bold and detailed blueprint for a sustainable and prosperous recovery that will drive Canada’s transition to a green economy and a just society. Elizabeth spoke at the press conference to launch Reimagining our Future, and all three MPs participated in a national webinar on Thursday.
In the wake of weeks of protests around the world against systemic racism and police brutality, Jenica asked the government to condemn the systemic racism within Canada’s own police force, and to commit to addressing racial profiling by the police in Canada. She also pressed for investment into community social services that would decrease reliance on police forces.
In his questions this week, Paul pressed for more help for charities and nonprofits, and people with disabilities, through expanded CPP Disability eligibility criteria and increased payments. He also asked the government to implement a Guaranteed Livable Income (GLI), a key recommendation of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Also regarding Indigenous communities, Paul called for the successful Community Safety Officer pilot project in the Kwanlin Dun First Nation to be taken as an example for the rest of the country.
On Wednesday, the Liberals brought forward a new Bill, C-17, to accomplish four things; expand the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS); suspend or extend various time limits in legislation that can’t be met because of COVID-19; make a one-time payment to people with disabilities who receive the disability tax credit; and create retroactive penalties to punish those receiving CERB but who are ineligible. In her questions, Elizabeth called for the disability payments to be expanded beyond a one time payment and to reach those who do not receive the disability tax credit even though they are on disability benefits. She took a strong stance against the punitive approach to the CERB arguing it should be transitioned more towards a GLI.
After months of parties working together collaboratively, partisanship resurfaced. C-17 lacked unanimous consent to move forward, and even a compromise motion focusing solely on disability payments was shot down by the Conservatives. In the end, no new legislation was passed this week.
On Wednesday evening Paul hosted an online Community Conversation with Chris “Farmer” Brown, an agricultural activist, urban farmer and educator in Nanaimo. They had an in-depth conversation about the challenges and opportunities of local food security. Next week Paul will be talking to Chris Beaton, executive director of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, and Joy Bremner, board president of the Mid-Island Metis Nation, about National Indigenous People’s Day and the impacts of COVID-19 on the urban Indigenous community.
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Key Moments
Question Period and Member’s Statements
Statements and Press Releases
In Their Own Words
Petitions
Petitions tabled by Green MPs this week
E-petitions open for signature
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
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
Green Party urges government to move swiftly and implement all Calls to Action recommended in report from TRC
December 17th, 2020
On fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, Green Party says Canada still a long way from meeting its most basic obligations
December 12th, 2020
On the edge of disaster. On the fifth Anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Global Greens call for action not celebration
December 11th, 2020
‘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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