Week in Review

April 7, 2017

Welcome to Elizabeth May's parliamentary week in review! This weekly e-newsletter recaps her work in Parliament when the House is in session. At the links below, you can watch videos of Elizabeth's interventions in the House, keep up with her media releases, and read articles she has written. This newsletter covers Elizabeth's work from March 31, 2017 to April 7, 2017.

Key Moments in the House

– Questions –

April 3 – Question on the large delays in spending announced in the 2017 budget

April 4 – Question on the large delay in the announced affordable housing spending

April 5 – Question to PM Trudeau on the broken environmental assessment process

– Points of Order –

April 4 – The issue of heckling in the House of Commons

Changing the Rules of the House of Commons

On April 3rd, 2017, Elizabeth responded to the government’s white paper on reforming the Standing Orders of the House of Commons with a press conference and report of her own. In doing so, she detailed a number of changes to the rules and procedures governing the House of Commons which would improve the democratic legitimacy, sustainability and functionality of Canada’s Parliament.

Video footage of the press conference is available above. Meanwhile, a pdf copy of her full report is available here.

In the Media

iPolitics: Elizabeth May's got a bold plan to clean up the Commons

iPolitics: Sometimes on a Saturday? Elizabeth May pitches 6-day House work week

Policy Magazine: Notes from the Road – London in the Aftermath

Island Tides: What’s in the 2017 Budget?

Public Statements

Elizabeth May calls on the government to demand the release of Arab Spring protesters threatened with imminent beheading

Statement on the Environmental Assessment report to restore science-based decision-making, and remove National Energy Board involvement

Petitions

Elizabeth introduced the following petitions to the government this week:

Ban the possession and sale or distribution of shark fins in Canada.
Work with the Province of British Columbia, first nations, municipalities, regional districts, and landowners to begin a process for the protection of community drinking-water watersheds on Vancouver Island by putting them under public ownership.
Increase research, testing and information collection and dissemination of vascular treatments for multiple sclerosis patients.
Press the People's Republic of China to stop discrimination against the practitioners of Falun Dafa and Falun Gong.

Read the governments' responses to petitions Elizabeth has introduced here.

Community Newsletter

April 2017 Newsletter – Earthquake Preparedness

Current Federal Opportunities

Canada 150 Speakers’ Speech Writing Contest – Young Canadians from across the country are encouraged to participate in the Speakers’ Speech Writing Contest. The contest closes on April 21, 2017. Click the link for more details.

Committee Briefs

Brief Submitted to the Expert Panel Reviewing Environmental Assessment Law

Brief Submitted to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change for the "Let's Talk Parks Canada" Consultation

Brief Submitted to the Standing Committee on International Trade for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Consultation

Brief Submitted to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in Response to their Review of the Navigation Protection Act

Brief Submitted to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in Response to the Review of Changes to the Fisheries Act

Brief Submitted to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development on the Canadian Environmental Protection Act

Private Members' Bills

Elizabeth May has introduced the following bills:

Bill C-269: This bill will abolish mandatory minimum sentences for all crimes of except murder and treason.

Bill C-258: This "Think Small First" bill would require that every new bill introduced in the House undergo an assessment to determine how the bill would impact Canadian small businesses.

Bill C-259: The Open Science Act would require all federal departments to make all publicly funded scientific research available to Canadians on their websites.

For a list of private members' bills Elizabeth May has seconded, please visit elizabethmaymp.ca

Recent Events

March 30^th to April 2^nd – Elizabeth participated in the Global Greens & European Greens Congress in Liverpool, UK

Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 8^th – Join Elizabeth as she participates in the Lakehill Little League Opening Ceremonies

Saturday, April 8^th – Join Elizabeth for the "Salute To Vimy 100" commemorative ceremony at Fort Rodd Hill

Tuesday, April 18^th – Join Elizabeth as she delivers the keynote address at Raincoast's "Orcas at Risk" event in Sidney

Wednesday, April 19^th – Join Elizabeth as she speaks at the Cordova Bay Association for Community Affairs Annual General Meeting

Saturday, April 22^nd – Join Elizabeth, MP Sheila Malcolmson and others at "Protecting Our Islands" on Gabriola

Saturday, April 22^nd – Join Elizabeth at the Earth Day screening of Silver Donald Cameron's film Green Rights: The Human Right to a Healthy World