Another busy week for the Green Caucus! Elizabeth responded to the budget in a statement on Monday, all three Greens had questions during Question Period, and MPs sat late into the night during an emergency debate on back-to-work legislation for Port of Montreal dockworkers.
Question Period
This week, Jenica, Elizabeth and Paul all had questions during Question Period.
Following the announcement of Canada’s disappointing new target of reducing emissions by 40-45% by 2030, Elizabeth told her colleagues, “climate targets aren’t about politics, they are about science.” She asked the government to set an improved target to reduce emissions by 2025.
Jenica called out the government for investing millions into Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMNR), and painting them as a clean, affordable energy solution, while ignoring the risks. Meanwhile investments in energy efficiency and renewable energies are able to reduce emissions today.
Paul asked the government to make post-secondary education free. He made a case for why all Canadians should have access to higher education without being crippled by debt, especially during this time of pandemic.
Questions and Statements
Key Moments
Emergency Debate on Port of Montreal strike
Elizabeth May: Forcing dockworkers in the Port of Montreal back to to work is a grave error
Paul Manly: Back to work legislation lets employers off the hook
Jenica Atwin: Maintain the right of workers to strike
Elizabeth May: Make the employer do the right thing without punishing workers
Paul Manly: Back-to-work legislation erodes the constitutional right to strike
Petitions
e-3218 Reduce violent crime (closes May 2)
e-3014 Modernize the complaints review panel of the Canadian Judicial Council (closes May 7)
e-3221 Reduce emissions to meet the Paris target (closes May 11)
e-3256 Protect the Kavango basin region (closes May 11)
e-3075 Halt all transfer of Canadian made weapons to Saudi Arabia (closes May 27)
e-3138 Make Election Day a paid holiday when it falls on a weekday (closes May 29)
e-3307 Review the Victims Bill of Rights (closes May 30)
e-3159 Ban new strip mines in the Rocky Mountains (closes June 5)
e-3353 Create the National Council of Tree Science Research (closes June 21)
e-3164 Implement a national living wage (closes June 29)