Green Caucus Week in Review 06/15-06/19

Week in Review: June 15 – 19 (le français suit)

This week MPs participated in the final week of regular parliamentary sessions before the summer adjournment, a time when MPs can concentrate on work in their ridings for more than a few days at a time. Given the ongoing pandemic, this summer will be very different. During the summer, MPs will meet for four pre-scheduled meetings of the House. There will be two in July and two in August, in addition to any ad-hoc meetings required to review emergency measures related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, MPs debated the Supplementary Estimates put forward by the Liberals. When previously approved budgetary programs encounter unforeseen spending requirements, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government can seek the approval of Parliament to add or reallocate funds to these programs through supplementary estimates.

In her response to the supplementary estimates, Elizabeth asked the government to explain an $18 million increase to the RCMP operations’ budget. She also asked that there be more funding for Indigenous people’s friendship centres, VIA rail, and why there had not yet been a response from the government to the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

In his questions this week, Paul focused on Canada’s justice system and police force. He asked the government to reduce spending on the RCMP, decriminalize drugs, and ban the use of tear gas. He also asked the government how much the recent Trans Mountain Pipeline oil spill would cost taxpayers. In his Member’s Statement on Tuesday, Paul urged the government to consider the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to remember that no one will be immune to the impacts of the climate crisis.

On Wednesday, Paul hosted another Community Conversation with Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre executive director Chris Beaton and Mid-Island Métis Nation president Joy Bremner. Their conversation focused on the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented for urban Indigenous people and the organizations that serve them. Chris and Joy talked about online celebrations planned for National Indigenous Peoples Day on Sunday, June 21st.

June 17th marked the one-year anniversary of Canada’s vote to declare a climate emergency. On that day, Elizabeth pressed the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, to commit to setting a new, more aggressive climate target this year, as per the legally binding requirements of the Paris Agreement. This week, Elizabeth was also elected chair of the Parliamentary Democracy Caucus.

Jenica asked the government when people with disabilities could expect to see financial support, following last week’s failed motion that would have provided a one-time $600 payment to those receiving the disability tax credit. She also asked the Minister of Health to address systemic racism against Indigenous peoples in the healthcare system, and called on the Heritage Minister to put forward policies to promote Indigenous place names.

This is the last newsletter you will receive until the week of July 8th, when the House will next reconvene. In the meantime, stay tuned to our Green MPs’ social media channels and websites, linked below, for news, publications, and online events. We are so proud of our Green MPs, and cannot wait to see what they will accomplish over the summer and in the fall. Remember that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over. As safety measures relax, we hope you will stay safe and mindful that the risk of spreading COVID-19 has not gone away. Thank you for reading the Green Caucus Week in Review.