✘ Bill C-354 (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities)

Bill

Bill C-354, An Act to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities)

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

The CRTC already holds extensive public consultations open to anyone before making decisions. The duty to consult the governments of Quebec and the other provinces proposed in C-354 would require the CRTC to engage in significant additional consultations in relation to a large number of its decisions resulting in a heavy burden in terms of both time and resources and potentially impeding its ability to efficiently fulfill its mandate.

Passed.

Bill Status

In consideration in committee in the House of Commons

✔︎ Bill C-320 (disclosure of information to victims)

Bill

Bill C-320, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-320 amends the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to ensure that disclosure of an offender’s parole eligibility dates to victims of crime also includes an explanation of how such dates were determined.

Passed.

Bill Status

At second reading in the Senate

✔︎ Bill C-321 (Assaults Against Health Care Professionals and First Responders)

Bill

Bill C-321, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against health care professionals and first responders)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-321 builds on Former Bill C-3 which our Government introduced and received Royal Assent on December 17, 2021. Former Bill C-3 amended the Criminal Code, to add as an aggravating factor that the offence was committed against a person who, in the performance of their duties and functions, was providing health services, including personal care services and abortion services. Our Government continues to show support to first responders, including the recent passage of MP Romanado’s Private Member Bill C-224, National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act which was passed on March 8 2023 3rd reading and adoption.

Passed.

Bill Status

At second reading in the Senate

✘ Bill C-318, Adoptive and Intended Parents

Bill

Bill C-318, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Labour Code (adoptive and intended parents)

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

While the government supports C-318`s goal to update our Employment Insurance (EI) program to better meet the needs of adoptive and surrogate parents and their children, the Bill contains critical flaws that will make it impossible to support. Amendments to correct these critical errors in the legislation would be extensive and a proper approach to these updates to EI require the benefit of the government`s carful consultations on this matter. Work continues on modernizing EI, a key proposal will be the introduction of a new 15-week, shareable EI benefit to support the placement needs of adoptive parents and parents of children conceived by surrogacy, with corresponding leave provisions under the Canada Labour Code (Code).

Passed.

Bill Status

At third reading in the House of Commons

✔︎ Bill C-273 (Corinne’s Quest)

Bill

Bill C-273, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (Corinne’s Quest and the protection of children)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-273 proposes to repeal section 43 of the Criminal Code, which sets out a limited defence to criminal liability for using reasonable corrective force toward a child. The recommended approach would replace section 43 with a new provision that would no longer provide a defence for parents and teachers who use corporal punishment (e.g., hitting and spanking) against children, while still allowing for minor physical force that is both transitory and trifling, such as carrying their child to their bedroom for a “time out”. It would also delay the coming into force to 30 days following Royal Assent.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in committee in the House of Commons

✘ Bill C-234 (Pollution Pricing)

Bill

Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

Bill C-234 would undermine the measures proposed in Government Bill C-8, which proposes a tax rebate to return fuel charges to farmers in backstop jurisdictions. If Bill C-234 passes, this would result in a double-compensation of farmers and could result in further complexities such as claw-backs.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in the House of Commons of amendments made by the Senate

✔︎ Bill C-317, National Strategy on Floor and Drought Forecasting Act

Bill

Bill C-317, An Act to establish a national strategy respecting flood and drought forecasting

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Bill would require the Minister of the Environment, in collaboration with specific ministers and in consultation with provinces, municipalities, Indigenous governing bodies and other stakeholders, to develop and table a national strategy respecting flood and drought forecasting within two years. It would also require the preparation and tabling of a report assessing the strategy’s efficiency, within five years.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in committee in the House of Commons

✔︎ Bill S-202 (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate)

Bill

Bill S-202, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The creation of a Parliamentary Artist Laureate builds on the Government’s support for the arts since 2015. The Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate would complement these commitments by creating an opportunity to celebrate Canadian visual arts and artists, and projecting a global image of open-mindedness, creativity, and innovation. Supporting Bill S-202 recognizes the importance of visual arts to the Canadian creative economy, supports diverse artistic expression by Canadian artists, raises the profile of Canadian visual arts in Canada and abroad, and demonstrates that the Government values the contributions made by contemporary Canadian visual artists.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in the Senate for amendments made by the House of Commons

✘ Bill C-352, Lowering Prices for Canadians Act

Bill

Bill C-352, An Act to amend the Competition Act and the Competition Tribunal

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

Bill C-352 significantly overlaps with efforts already underway in Government Bill C-56 on changes to the Competition Act. Furthermore, some elements of Bill C-352 run contrary to amendments voted by this Parliament in 2022 such as capping criminal penalties and new formulation for AMPs.

Passed.

Bill Status

In consideration in committee in the House of Commons

✔︎ Bill C-355, Prohibition of the Export of Horses by Air for Slaughter Act

Bill

Bill C-355, An Act to prohibit the export by air of horses for slaughter and to make related amendments to certain Acts

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-355 proposes to prohibit the export of horses by air for slaughter. Horse exporters would be required to provide a written declaration that exported horses are not for slaughter or fattening for slaughter.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in committee in the House of Commons