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PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILL
Community Benefit legislation reintroduced
On April 7, MP Ramesh Sangha introduced Bill C-344, a private member’s bill that would authorize the Minister of Public Works to require an explanation of anticipated community benefits when bids are submitted for federal infrastructure projects. Similar legislation had previously passed second reading and committee stage in the House, but had to be dropped from consideration when its sponsor, the Hon. Ahmed Hussen, was named to cabinet.
Imagine Canada is following this file closely, as it may lead to transformative changes in the government’s funding relationship to charities and nonprofits. Through social procurement, charities and nonprofit may be able to compete for government contracts for delivery of services. They may also benefit from agreements with private sector contractors where contracts contain a ‘community benefit agreement’.
A national Community of Practice regarding social procurement policy is forming in order to promote, develop, and expand social purchasing as a means to build healthy communities. Send us an email at publicpolicy@imaginecanada.ca if you’d like to learn more.
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SENATE DEBATE
National Basic Income Program
On March 28, the Senate continued debate on a motion encouraging the federal government to work with the provinces and territories to pilot and evaluate a National Basic Income Program.
The main motion, proposed by Senator Art Eggleton, reads:
That the Senate encourage the federal government, after appropriate consultations, to sponsor along with one or more of the provinces/territories a pilot project, and any complementary studies, to evaluate the cost and impact of implementing a national basic income program based on a negative income tax for the purpose of helping Canadians to escape poverty.
Amendments to the original motion have been proposed, primarily to allow for the inclusion of Indigenous communities in any such pilot initiatives and studies. The amended motion reads:
That the Senate encourage the federal government, after appropriate consultations, to provide support to initiatives by Provinces/Territories, including the Aboriginal Communities, aimed at evaluating the cost and impact of implementing measures, programs and pilot projects for the purpose of helping Canadians to escape poverty, by way of a basic income program (such as a negative income tax) and to report on their relative efficiency.
When debate has ended, the Senate will first vote on whether to accept the amendments to the original motion. If the amendments are approved, the Senate will vote on that version of the motion; if the amendments are not approved, the vote would be on the original motion.
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ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION ANNOUNCEMENT
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
On March 31, the government announced that Canada is set to host the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Montreal from September 3 to 9, 2017.
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ARTS & CULTURE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cultural Meeting of G7 Countries
Minister Joly participated in the inaugural Meeting of G7 Culture Ministers in Florence, Italy in late March, to discuss “Culture as a Tool for a Dialogue Among Peoples” and the protection of cultural heritage. Minister Joly and her G7 colleagues signed the Joint Declaration of Florence, which recognizes that cultural heritage is central to the preservation of a country’s identity and is a resource for growth, sustainable development and economic prosperity. The declaration also identifies culture as both a driver and a subject of advanced technologies in the digital era.
New money for the Canada Music Fund
On April 2, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, announced that an additional $4.15 million would be invested in the Canada Music Fund to support Canadian artists abroad. The announcement was timed to coincide with the JUNO Awards, which recently took place in Ottawa, and recognizes that Canadian cultural industries represent a key sector of our economy.
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CONSULTATION
Immigration Detention System
The Canada Border Services Agency is inviting Canadians to provide feedback on the National Immigration Detention Framework by May 22, 2017.
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NEW DATA
Statistics Canada
Over the last few weeks, Statistics Canada has released a number of new data products:
- Labour Force Survey for March 2017 along with an infographic showing employment changes by geographic region.
- An article presenting findings on the relationship between aerobic fitness, body mass index and health-related risk factors such as high blood pressure.
- A new report from the 2015 National Apprenticeship Survey regarding the benefits and challenges of apprenticeship programs.
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Activity in Parliament
Bill C-233, legislation that would lead to a national strategy for Alzheimer’s and other dementias, passed second reading in the Senate on March 28. The bill will now be studied by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
On March 30, the Senate continued third reading debate on Bill C-6, proposing amendments to the Citizenship Act and other legislation. The bill, passed by the House of Commons last year, would, among other matters, amend the circumstances under which Canadian citizenship can be revoked. Debate continued on April 5 and again on April 6.
The House of Commons voted on April 5 on a private member’s motion calling on the federal government to take a leadership role in establishing a national strategy to eradicate ALS. The motion passed unanimously.
On April 6, the Commons began report stage of Bill C-25, which proposes technical amendments to a number of laws, including the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. Proposed changes to the CNCA include clarifying the definition of “incompetent” in terms of people who are not allowed to register a nonprofit corporation, and allowing nonprofit corporations considering a name change to temporarily reserve a new name.
LOOKING AHEAD
On Wednesday at noon, Malala Yousafzai will make an address to Parliament and officially receive the honorary Canadian citizenship bestowed upon her in 2014. The original presentation was to have occurred October 22, 2014 but was cancelled when a gunman attacked Parliament Hill and killed a soldier at the National War Memorial.
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Parliamentary Committee Work
House
New
Last week, The Foreign Affairs and International Development committee tabled its report on Canada’s sanction regime: A Coherent and Effective Approach to Canada's Sanctions Regimes: Sergei Magnitsky and Beyond. This report is the culmination of the committee’s review of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act.
The Environment and Sustainable Development committee has closed its Review of the Environmental Protections Act, and is currently preparing the study’s report. The committee has also recently tabled the report on its study of Federal Protected Areas and Conservation Objectives.
The Health committee recently tabled the report to its study of Bill C-277 An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada, recommending amendments to the bill.
Ongoing
The Fisheries and Oceans committee is studying The Ocean Act’s Marine Protected Areas.
The Human Resources, Skills and Social Development committee is studying Bill C-243, National Maternity Assistance Program Strategy Act, as well Poverty Reduction Strategies.
The Status of Women committee is currently studying the Economic Security of Women in Canada. Individuals and organizations are invited to participate.
The Heritage committee is studying Indigenous Participation in Sport.
The Health committee is currently studying Public Health Effects of Online Violent and Degrading Sexually Explicit Material on Children, Women and Men (M-47).
Senate
New
Last week, the Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources committee reported on its continuing study on the effects of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
The Human Rights committee is now studying the machinery of government dealing with Canada’s international and national human rights obligations.
Ongoing
The Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee is studying Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code.
The Agriculture and Forestry committee is studying the potential impact of the effects of climate change on the agriculture, agri-food and forestry sectors.
The Fisheries and Oceans committee is studying Bill S-203, which would ban the practice of keeping whales, dolphins and porpoises captive.
The Aboriginal Peoples committee is focused on a study on the new relationship between Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
The Human Rights committee has been studying the issues relating to the human rights of prisoners in the correctional system.
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