Elizabeth May’s Week in Review – May 19, 2017

May 19, 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 May 12, 2017 to May 19, 2017. 


Key Moments in the House

Question Period

Will the government reconsider pipelines approved through the deeply flawed NEB process?

Debate

What action is being taken on the ground to address the fentanyl crisis?

– Questioning the use of time allocation to limit debate on Bill C-7

– Why was a national autism strategy not in this year’s budget?

Speech

Tribute to Rona Ambrose

 


Electoral Reform Update – Less than Two Weeks Left to Save Electoral Reform! 

One Wednsesday, May 17th, Elizabeth May and Nathan Cullen joined forces for a very special event supporting electoral reform. At the event they spoke to why changing our electoral system is more critical than ever and why we cannot give up on the Liberals keeping their promise: that 2015 would be the last election held under First Past the Post.

There is less than two weeks left to make this happen. On May 31st, the opposition will bring one last vote to Parliament to make proportional representation a reality for the next election. On that day, Elizabeth will stand strong alongside her opposition allies on a vote to support the historic findings and comprehensive report of the Special Committee on Electoral Reform.

However, opposition MPs cannot win the vote on their own. So, now more than ever, we must tell Liberal MPs that Canadians want proportional representation and are counting on their support.

If:

  • You think it’s unfair that under our current voting system, a party that receives less than 50% of the votes can hold 100% of the power in Parliament;
  • You don’t like that votes in “swing ridings” are more important than votes in “safe ridings;”
  • You like that voter turnout is generally higher in countries with proportional representation;
  • You like the fact that countries with proportional voting systems have a higher number of female and visible minority legislators.

Then:

  • Call (most effective) or email your Member of Parliament, please find their contact information using your postal code here;
  • Send your Member of Parliament a form letter, asking them “Will you be a Democracy Hero?” please fill in your information on LeadNow‘s page here;
  • Learn more about preportional representation, or rebuttals to Prime Minister Trudeau’s excuses for not pursuing it, by visiting the electoral reform section of Elizabeth’s website here

Together, a fair voting system is still possible, but time is running out and we need your help! Please tell Liberal MPs: “Keep Your Promise and vote YES to electoral reform,” before the May 31st deadline.

 


In the Media

CBC – The Current: How to reform Parliament – 4 MPs from different parties aim to fix democracy

CBC – News: Q&A – Elizabeth May on Vancouver Island’s Green revolution

Hill Times: Federal NDP, Greens buoyed by B.C. election results, Liberals stay diplomatic

CTV – Question Period: The end of new pipelines in B.C.?

CPAC – Scrums:  Auditor General not able to get access to government data about its plan for a fossil fuel phase out (Elizabeth’s comments begin at 04:18)

 


Public Statements

Statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

 


Press Releases

Auditor General slams Liberals for failing to provide numbers in phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies

 


Petitions

Elizabeth introduced the following petitions to the government this week:

  • Embrace the notion of a national AIDS strategy using the proven principle of treatment as prevention.
  • Legislate against the use of SLAPP (strategic litigation against public participation) lawsuits to shut down public opposition to corporate activities. 
  • Put in place a national affordable housing program, along the lines of the resolution passed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, looking to reform the tax system to increase benefits to developers in building purpose-built rental housing​.
  • Press the People’s Republic of China to stop discrimination against the practitioners of Falun Dafa and Falun Gong.
  • Protect the unique ecological, cultural, and historical Kipawa lakes area from a proposed rare earths mine.
  • Label products if they contain genetically modified organisms, so that citizens and consumers will be able to make an informed choice about the products they buy.

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


Community Newsletter

April 2017 Newsletter – Earthquake Preparedness


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 

Wednesday, May 17th – Elizabeth May & Nathan Cullen hosted a bipartisan event for electoral reform

Friday, May 19th – Elizabeth delivered the 2017 Robert Hunter Memorial Lecture at U of T

 


Upcoming Ev​ents

Saturday, May 20th – Join Elizabeth for Mayne Island Conservancy’s 12th Annual May Day Celebrations

Saturday, May 27th – Join Elizabeth at the opening of (in)finite, a 60th Anniversary Exhibition by the Anglican Foundation

Walk for the Salish Sea – May 25th-29th: