On Monday, the Green Party of Canada called for an emergency debate on the spread of COVID-19 variants. On behalf of the Green Caucus, MP Paul Manly said, “we believe there is an urgent need to debate whether now is the time to shift gears from ‘bending a curve’ to ‘going to zero’ cases – or as close to zero as possible.” Unfortunately, the request was not granted.

While MPs debated the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, Elizabeth spoke up for decorum and decency among parliamentarians as crucial components of a healthy democracy.

In adjournment proceedings, Paul dove deeper into a debate on regulation in the housing market, and pressed the government to protect Canadians from prohibitive rent increases caused by distorted markets.

Marking the one-hundred year anniversary of the invention of insulin, Jenica called on the government to develop a National Framework to address the epidemic of diabetes in Canada.

Elizabeth noted that many of her fellow MPs have spoken negatively of the new Biden administration since the Keystone XL Pipeline was cancelled. She reminded them that Canada should be celebrating President Biden, since he is serious about taking action to address the climate crisis.

On Friday, she presented a petition with over 27 thousand signatures calling on the government to cancel the Grassy Mountain Coal Mine in Alberta.

On Saturday at 11:00 am PST, Elizabeth will participate in a panel discussion alongside Annamie Paul with the Green Party of England and Wales in support of their Co-Leaders’ bid for the London Mayoralship. Click here to register. On Sunday at 11:00 am PST, she will appear in FairVote Canada’s Global Assembly on Climate: What can we learn from electoral reform? Click here to register.

Parliament is scheduled to resume on Monday, February 15th. Until then, stay safe, and thank you for reading the Green Caucus Week in Review.

Key Moments

• Paul Manly: Request for emergency debate on COVID-19 variants
• Paul Manly on the Fall Economic Statement: Canadians deserve better
• Elizabeth May: Canadians deserve a Parliament where respect and efficiency reign
• Elizabeth May: Why weren’t Conservatives as concerned about Trump as they are about Biden?
• Elizabeth May: Canada should be celebrating a US President who is serious about climate change

Question Period and Member’s Statements

• Paul Manly: Canada needs to address the forces driving the affordable housing crisis
• Jenica Atwin: 100 years after the discovery of insulin, diabetes is still an epidemic in Canada
• Elizabeth May: When it comes to fossil fuel subsidies and GHG emissions, Liberals don’t know up from down

Press Conferences and Media Releases

• Greens Call for Emergency Debate on COVID-19 Variants

In Their Own Words / Media​

• Elizabeth May: Good Sunday Morning – January 31st
• Bigger Parties Are Blocking Greens From Asking Trudeau Questions: May

Petitions

• e-3028 Accede to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (closes Feb 6)
• e-3037 Reject CP Logistics Park in Pitt Meadows (closes Feb 14)
• e-3071 Discontinue GDP measurement and shift to a wellbeing economy (closes Feb 27)
• e-3094 Reduce dependency on China (closes March 8)
• e-3058 Ban fracking, transition to renewable energy (closes March 21)
• e-3014 Modernize the complaints review panel of the Canadian Judicial Council (closes May 7)

The post Green Caucus Week in Review: February 1 – 5 appeared first on Elizabeth May.

The Canadian Diabetes Association advocates that no Canadian should spend more than 3% of their total after tax earnings on necessary prescribed medications and other treatments. This is a good principle to support.

The post What is the Single-Fastest Increasing Cost to the Health Care System? appeared first on Elizabeth May.