Week in Review 10/31 - 11/04

C-226

On Tuesday, the Environment committee heard testimony on Elizabeth’s Private Member’s Bill C-226, to address environmental racism and develop a national strategy to promote environmental justice. Elizabeth testified alongside Dr. Jane E. McArthur from Canadian Associations of Physicians for the Environment, and former MP Lenore Zann, who originally submitted the bill as C-230. The committee also heard an emotionally charged testimony from Ellen Gabriel, Onkwehón:we Rights Activist living in Kanehsatà:ke, QC. You can watch the committee here. On Friday, the bill went through clause by clause in committee, making major strides to get it passed.

Stop Ecocide

On Tuesday, Elizabeth participated in a multi-partisan press conference on behalf of the Stop Ecocide movement. Stop Ecocide is calling for “ecocide” to be the fifth crime within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) alongside genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. Liberal MP Jenica Atwin and NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice, alongside Elizabeth, Amalie Wilkinson, co-lead of Youth for Ecocide Law, and Darryl Robinson, professor of law at Queen‘s University, and contributor to the definition of ecocide collectively supported this action at the press conference. You can watch the press conference here.

Later that evening, Stop Ecocide and MP May hosted a panel and reception to further discuss the concept of Ecocide.

Fall Economic Statement

On Thursday, Elizabeth, Mike, Interim Party Leader, Amita Kuttner and Deputy Leader Luc Joli-Coeur attended lockup to review the government’s Fall Economic Statement. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland tabled the document in the House of Commons at 4:00 pm. You can read the Green Party’s reaction here.

COP27

Next week, Mike will travel to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for the 27th annual Conference of the Parties (COP) climate negotiations as a member of the Canadian delegation. He will work alongside elected Greens from around the globe to fight for stronger climate action. The clock is ticking louder every day. Let’s hope Canada pushes harder and leads the world to a more livable future.

Next week, MPs will return to work in their constituencies. Elizabeth and Mike will observe a solemn Remembrance Day on November 11th. The House is scheduled to resume sitting on Monday, November 14th. Until then, stay safe, and thank you for reading the Green Caucus Week in Review.