Week in Review: December 4 – 8
December 8, 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. 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 for an end to violence against women and for closing the gender wage gap. She introduced her Private Member's Bill, C-387, to strengthen Canada's passenger rail service. She spoke strongly in favour of Mr. Boudrias' (MP for Terrebone) bill to restore public funding to political parties. She lent equal support to Minister Carolyn Bennett's Bill C-61, which transfers authority over schools and education to the Anishinaabek Nation.
This newsletter covers Elizabeth's work in the House from December 4 to December 8.
* 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
Statements
Private Member's Bills
Question Period
Debate
Adjournment Proceedings
Question of Privilege
Current Issues: Marine Protected Areas
Elizabeth submitted five amendments to Bill C-55, An Act to amend the Oceans Act and the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, which went through clause-by-clause consideration at the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on Thursday, December 7.
Two of her amendments were passed by the committee: an amendment to add that ecological integrity be used as a criterion to establish a Marine Protected Area, and an amendment to ensure that within networks of protected areas, each individual MPA has clearly identified objectives, and that the network of protected areas covers diverse habitat types, biogeographic regions, and environmental conditions.
This marks an openness on the part of the Government to accept Green amendments. Elizabeth looks forward to working with Minister LeBlanc as Bill C-55 moves closer to becoming law.
In the Media
- "Reconciliation, fairness top of mind for new Supreme Court nominee Sheilah Martin"
(Laura Stone, Globe & Mail, Dec. 5) - "The Pollcast: Can the federal Greens tap into provincial momentum?"
(Éric Grenier, CBC News, Podcast, Dec. 7) - "Trudeau, returning from China, faces pressure to fight for political prisoners with links to Canada"
(Marie-Danielle Smith, The National Post, Dec. 7) - "Fisheries and oceans bill amended at committee"
(Marguerite Marlin, iPolitics, Dec. 7) - "Heckling Demeans the House"
(Elizabeth May, Policy Magazine, December Issue)
Public Statements
- Statement on International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- Statement on World Soil Day 2017
- Statement on International Volunteer Day
- Statement on National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada
- Bill C-55: Government passes Elizabeth May's amendments on Marine Protected Areas
- (F) Projet de loi C-55 : Le gouvernement adopte les amendements proposés par Elizabeth May à l’égard des zones de protection marine
Petitions
Elizabeth introduced the following petitions to the government this week:
- Publicly request the government of the People's Republic of China to launch an independent investigation into forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners.
- Condemn the current practice in the People's Republic of China of systematically murdering Falun Gong practitioners.
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
Committee Briefs & Responses
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.
Recent Events
Sunday, December 3
Monday, December 4
Thursday, December 7
Upcoming Events
Friday, December 8
Saturday, December 9
Sunday, December 10
Thursday, December 14
Friday, December 15
As always, the support of the Green Party of Canada has been invaluable in enabling Elizabeth to hold the government to account on such a large number of issues. For more information on their work, or to get involved, please visit: https://www.greenparty.ca/