Week in Review: March 19 – 23
Welcome back to Elizabeth May's parliamentary week in review! This weekly e-newsletter recaps her work in Parliament when the House is in session. Using 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 week, Elizabeth called on the government to implement strong green strategies in the budget. She also gave a statement on World Water Day and demanded the modernization of passenger rail service across Canada.
As you may already be aware, Elizabeth was arrested on Friday at the Kinder Morgan worksite. You can find a statement and numerous articles related to her act of civil disobedience below.
* If you are having trouble viewing this email, please view online at: https://elizabethmaymp.ca/category/news/week-in-review/
Key Moments in the House
Speech
Question Period
Statement
Adjournment Proceedings
Debate
Current Events: Stopping the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
Elizabeth May, arrested Friday morning at the Burnaby Mountain worksite of the Kinder Morgan pipeline project, is promising to stand firm with the Tsleil-waututh, Squamish and Musqueum First Nations and their supporters across Canada in opposing the “disastrous, climate-destroying Trans Mountain pipeline expansion”.
“I am keeping my word,” said Ms. May after she was released. “I said I would stand in solidarity with the First Nations opposing Kinder Morgan and I am keeping my word.
“Non-violent civil disobedience is legitimate as a means of expression but it is a step I have not taken before. Even standing on the logging roads of Clayoquot Sound in 1993, I stepped aside when asked to do so. I can no longer step aside.”
Ms. May said that she respects our courts and does not take violating an injunction lightly. “I await the court ruling on the legitimacy of the permit issued to Kinder Morgan. Unfortunately, the federal government and the Texas corporation are not awaiting the ruling of the Federal Court. Kinder Morgan is committed to acts constituting irreparable harm ‒ to the environment and to indigenous rights.
“I will continue to stand in solidarity with the First Nations on whose land these acts of vandalism are now being committed. Non-violent civil disobedience is the moral obligation of the climate-aware, responsible citizen.”
- "Federal Green Party Leader Elizabeth May arrested at anti-pipeline protest"
(Canadian Press, Rafferty Baker and Anita Bathe, CBC News, March 23) - "Green Party Leader Arrested"
(Omar Sachedina, CTV Power Play, March 23) - "Elizabeth May accuses Kinder Morgan of 'acts of vandalism'"
(National Observer, March 23) - "B.C. MPs Elizabeth May, Kennedy Stewart arrested at Kinder Morgan facility"
(Estefania Duran and Jeremy Lye, Global News, March 23) - "Elected politicians join citizens in taking bold action against Kinder Morgan"
(Stand, March 23) - "Arrested MPs might pay in court, but not at the ballot box: lawyer"
(Simon Little and Michelle Morton, Global News, March 23) - "Sense of inevitability around arrest of MPs Elizabeth May, Kennedy Stewart at Kinder Morgan protest"
(Glenda Luymes, Vancouver Sun, March 23) - "Two MPs arrested while protesting Kinder Morgan pipeline"
(Kelsey Johnson, iPolitics, March 23) - "Green Party leader Elizabeth May arrested in anti-pipeline protest"
(Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck, CTV News, March 23)
In the News
- "Elizabeth May Explains Why She Sides With Tories On Summer Jobs Dispute"
(Ryan Maloney, Huffington Post, March 20) - "Tell your senators to stop blocking whale captivity ban: May to Scheer"
(Holly Lake, iPolitics, March 16) - "Green leader Elizabeth May on Notley, Kinder Morgan and pipeline 'propaganda'"
- (CBC News, March 14)
- "Green Party's Elizabeth May on pipeline"
(CBC Listen, The Early Edition with Stephen Quinn, March 13)
Public Statements
Petitions
Elizabeth introduced the following petitions to the government this week:
- Extend a permanent tanker ban to cover the entire coast of British Columbia.
- Pass legislation requiring licensing and regulation of scientific laboratories, suppliers, and teaching centres where animals are used in live testing.
- Ban the use, sale, and trade of shark fins.
- Support small family farmers internationally and ensure support for their right to preserve, use, and freely exchange seeds.
Note: Elizabeth presents petitions once the deadline for signatures has passed. After presentation in the House, the government has 45 calendar days to table a response. You may read the governments' responses to petitions Elizabeth has introduced here.
View and sign open e-petitions currently sponsored by Elizabeth here.
Learn about the e-petition process or create one of your own here.
Community Newsletter
December 2017 Newsletter – Truth & Reconciliation
Have Your Say
Engage in government consultations for key legislative items:
Carbon pricing: Regulatory framework for the output-based pricing system
Deadline: April 9
Development of Regulations – Proposed Impact Assessment Legislation
Deadline: April 15
Consultation on front-of-package nutrition labelling
Deadline: April 26
Committee Briefs & Responses
Submission to the Consultations on an Amendment to Aquaculture Regulation
Submission to the Transport Canada Parliamentary Consultation
Submission to the Consultations on the federal Carbon Pricing System
Submission to the Consultations on the Federal Leaders' Debates
Submission to the Consultations on Health Canada’s Proposed Approach to the Regulation of Cannabis
Submission to the Consultations on the Proposed Excise Duty Framework for Cannabis Products
Submission to the Canada-Pacific Trade Consultations
Brief Submitted to the NAFTA Renegotiation Consultation
Brief Submitted to the Minister of Food and Agriculture Canada for "A Food Policy for Canada"
Response Submitted to the Consultations on Tax Planning Using Private Corporations
Response Submitted to the "Environment and Regulatory Reviews: Discussion Paper"
Brief Submitted to the Expert Panel Reviewing Environmental Assessment Law
Private Members' Bills
Elizabeth May has introduced the following bills:
Bill C-387: This bill will establish a legislative framework for a national passenger rail service.
Bill C-269: This bill will abolish mandatory minimum sentences for all crimes 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.