Week in Review: April 30 – May 4
Welcome 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 tirelessly advocated for extending the oil tanker moratorium along the full length of B.C.’s coast. She posed a question to the Prime Minister regarding the NAFTA renegotiations and made multiple interventions regarding rail transport in Canada.
Parliament lost one of its most beloved members with the sudden passing of Gord Brown (MP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands) on Wednesday, May 2. Leaders from all the parties, including Elizabeth, offered tributes to their colleague and friend.
* 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
Tribute
Private Members’ Bill
Question Period
Debate
Bill C-48: Oil Tanker Moratorium
- Proponents decide to cancel projects for market and internal reasons – Energy East
- Proponents decide to cancel projects for market and internal reasons – Petronas LNG
- Oil and gas reserves may expand, but our carbon budget is shrinking rapidly
- It is far too dangerous to have oil tankers along B.C.’s coast
- I applaud Bill C-48, but our Salish Sea needs protection
Various
- CPC Motion: Canada must update its climate targets based on scientific findings
- CPC Motion: The carbon tax approach to reducing GHGs is accepted by experts globally
- Bill C-49: I am very concerned about our current freight rail service being in private hands
- Bill C-374: This bill to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act is important for reconciliation
Adjournment Proceedings
In the News
- “Victoria group calls on feds to speed up refugees sponsorship process”
(Isabelle Raghem, CHEK News, April 22)
- “Kinder Morgan pipeline protesters are innocent of all charges but one”
(Warren Bell, National Observer: Opinion, April 24)
- “‘God bless you Gord, we will miss you’: MP Elizabeth May”
- (Global News, May 2)
- “Goldstein: Liberal, Tory same old story on climate change”
(Lorrie Goldstein, Toronto Sun, May 2)
- “Parliament to ask Pope Frances to vist Canada, to apologize for church’s role in residential schools”
(Gloria Galloway, The Globe and Mail, May 1)
Public Statements
- A Mayday for democracy: Elizabeth May introduces bill to lower the voting age to 16
- Statement on World Press Freedom Day
- Elizabeth’s brief summary of Bill C-76, Amending the Canada Elections Act
Petitions
Elizabeth introduced the following petitions in the House this week:
- The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans should work with different government branches to simplify the multi-jurisdictional process of protecting offshore marine proteccted areas.
- Pressure the People’s Republic of China to respect human rights, particularly with respect to the non-violent practitioners of Falun Dafa and Falun Gong.
- Condemn the acts of police violence against those demonstrating support for an independent state of Catalonia.
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
April 2018 Newsletter – Children
Have Your Say
Engage in Government consultations for key legislative items:
Deadline: June 1
Click here to see all Government consultations.
Committees, Briefs and 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
Private Members’ Bills
Elizabeth May has introduced the following bills:
Bill C-401: This bill will lower the voting age to 16.
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.
Recent Events
Monday, April 30
- Elizabeth met with the Paramedics Association

- Elizabeth attended the MS Awareness Reception

Tuesday, May 1
- Elizabeth attended the NSERC Awards Ceremony

Upcoming Events
Saturday, May 5
- Elizabeth canvasses with Mike Schreiner in Guelph
- Join Elizabeth and Mike Schreiner at the Raising of the Pride Flag and Community BBQ!
- Elizabeth and Mike Schreiner attend the Rainbow Chorus performance in Guelph
Sunday, May 6
- Elizabeth canvasses with Mike Schreiner in Guelph
- Join Elizabeth at the fundraiser for Tim Grant, featuring The Echotones!
Saturday, May 12
Sunday, May 13
- Elizabeth speaks to the Salt Spring Island Unitarian Fellowship
- Elizabeth delivers a talk, “Protecting Sacred Creation,” at All Saints by the Sea Anglican Parish
Monday, May 14
- Elizabeth visits Salt Spring Centre School
- Elizabeth visits Gulf Islands Secondary School
- Elizabeth visits Phoenix Elementary School
- Elizabeth presents at the 12th Annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting in Vancouver
Tuesday, May 15
Wednesday, May 16
Thursday, May 17
- Elizabeth visits Reynolds Secondary School
- Elizabeth speaks to the Newcomers’ Club of Greater Victoria
- Elizabeth attends the Saanich Inlet Protection Society (SIPS) Roundtable
Saturday, May 19