✔︎ C-63 (Budget Implementation Act)

Bill

C-63: A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2017 and other measures

Second Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

 The Budget Implementation Act provides the legislative framework to implement key campaign commitments that were reiterated in Budget 2017.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ M-126 (Portuguese Heritage Month)

Motion

M-126: Portuguese Heritage Month

Second Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

This motion demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring the results of federally funded health research are made available to the public, and to support reducing the costs of pharmaceutical drugs to improve access to needed medicines. Though this motion is not an explicit link to lowering drug costs, addressing “global access licensing” is one measure proposed by domestic and international stakeholders to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. The proposed Motion supports the Government’s efforts in enhancing public access to science supported by the federal government.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ M-132 (Health Research Fund)

Motion

M-132: Federally funded health research

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Support for the motion aligns with the Government’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, which includes the Speech from the Throne’s pronouncement of diversity as Canada’s strength, as well as the Canadian Multiculturalism Act objective to recognize the existence of communities whose members share a common origin, to support their efforts to raise awareness about their historic contributions to Canadian society, and to enhance the community’s development. Support would also be consistent with section 27 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which recognizes the importance of preserving and enhancing the multicultural heritage of Canadians. Federal-level recognition of June 10 as Portugal Day and June as Portuguese Heritage Month, already recognized by the Province of Ontario and British Columbia, would provide the opportunity to raise awareness of the many contributions Canadians of Portuguese heritage have made to Canada, and acknowledge the importance of this month for Canadians of Portuguese heritage. Support would be also consistent with that given to other recognition proposals that help foster social inclusion.

Result

Passed.

✘ C-325 (Right to Housing Act)

Bill

C-325:  An Act to amend the Canadian Bill of Rights (right to housing)

Second reading.

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

There are a number of reasons: first, the Canadian Bill of Rights is not the optimal mechanism for protecting a right to adequate housing in Canada.  Our upcoming National Housing Strategy combined with our investments in Budgets 2016 and 2017 re-establish the Government of Canada’s leadership in housing.   Our strategy will include open and transparent reporting mechanisms based in a stringent accountability framework.  This will ensure that the Government of Canada continues to play a leadership role in housing for generations to come.  Our strategy will prioritize support for vulnerable citizens, including seniors, survivors of domestic violence, persons with disabilities, those dealing with mental health and addiction issues, and veterans.  Further, Bill C-325 differs markedly from Canada’s obligation to ensure the right to adequate housing as framed in international law.  The UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) recognizes a right to adequate housing as a component of an adequate standard of living. Canada is implementing this right through a wide range of federal, provincial, territorial and municipal laws, policies and programs, including the Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the Investment in Affordable Housing, among others. 

Result

Defeated.

✘ C-346 (Firearms Act)

Bill

C-346:  An Act to amend the Firearms Act (licences) 

Second reading.

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

The measures proposed in C-346 undermine a fundamental principle of the Firearms Act: ensuring public safety. By moving the requirement to update CFOs with licence information from every five years to every ten years it will be difficult for CFOs to determine if a person’s changing personal circumstances should make them ineligible to own a firearm. The concept of licence suspension would be a new addition to the Firearms Act and is not well developed as a policy raising numerous questions about what it would mean operationally.

Result

Defeated.

✔︎ M-108 (Ranchers and Farmers)

Motion

M-108: Contribution of ranchers and farmers

Second reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The language of the motion essentially reflects a long-standing position of the Government of Canada. Supporting M-108 demonstrates the Government’s recognition of the contribution and the critical role played by ranchers and farmers. Supporting  M-108 also provides an opportunity to highlight the expected contribution of the next agricultural policy framework in continuing to support “on-farm” stewardship and conservation activities, as well as many positive achievements of our government, such as Budget 2017 recognizing that Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector is a key driver of economic growth. 

Result

Passed.

✘ C-315 (Parks Canada Agency Act)

Bill

C-315:  An Act to Amend the Parks Canada Agency Act (Conservation of National Historic Sites Account)

Second reading.

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

 The Bill proposes to give the Victims’ Ombudsman far greater power than comparable ombudsmen for other issues. There is insufficient evidence to justify such a dramatic expansion. By creating a new federal department, implementation of the Bill would require significant funding. It would therefore engage the Prime Minister’s prerogative and would also require a royal recommendation from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance. In addition, our Government is already reviewing the terms and conditions relating to the Ombudsman. A thorough analysis conducted in cooperation with the Ombudsman will produce better results than the measures proposed in Bill C-343.  

Result

Defeated.

✔︎ C-49 (Canada Transportation Act)

Bill

C-49: An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and other Acts respecting transportation and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts

Third Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

 Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada. Our Government has committed to creating new and stronger laws to punish more severely those who drive while under the influence of drugs, including cannabis. Bill C-46 goes one step further by proposing to reform the entire impaired driving regime in the Criminal Code. It would strengthen existing drug-impaired driving laws and create a regime that would be amongst the strongest in the world. To support these measures, the Government will undertake a robust public awareness campaign so that Canadians are well informed about the dangers of driving under the influence of cannabis and other drugs. It will also work with provinces, territories, municipalities and local communities to train and equip law enforcement so that Canada’s roads and highways are safe for all Canadians. On that note, our Government is investing up to $274 million to support law enforcement and border efforts to detect and deter drug-impaired driving and enforce the proposed cannabis legalization and regulation. We have committed up to $161 million for training frontline officers in how to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug-impaired driving, building law enforcement capacity across the country, providing access to drug screening devices, developing policy, bolstering research, and raising public awareness about the dangers of drug-impaired driving. 

Result

Passed.

✔︎ C-46 (Impaired Driving)

Bill

C-46: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (offences relating to conveyances) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

Third Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada. Our Government has committed to creating new and stronger laws to punish more severely those who drive while under the influence of drugs, including cannabis. Bill C-46 goes one step further by proposing to reform the entire impaired driving regime in the Criminal Code. It would strengthen existing drug-impaired driving laws and create a regime that would be amongst the strongest in the world. To support these measures, the Government will undertake a robust public awareness campaign so that Canadians are well informed about the dangers of driving under the influence of cannabis and other drugs. It will also work with provinces, territories, municipalities and local communities to train and equip law enforcement so that Canada’s roads and highways are safe for all Canadians. On that note, our Government is investing up to $274 million to support law enforcement and border efforts to detect and deter drug-impaired driving and enforce the proposed cannabis legalization and regulation. We have committed up to $161 million for training frontline officers in how to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug-impaired driving, building law enforcement capacity across the country, providing access to drug screening devices, developing policy, bolstering research, and raising public awareness about the dangers of drug-impaired driving.

Result

Passed.

✘ M-131 (Carbon Pricing)

Bill

M-131: Carbon Pricing

First reading.

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

Reporting on Carbon Pricing is addressed through agreed Federal-Provincial Pan-Canadian Approach. Provisions for annual reporting, and for study and review of the pan-Canadian approach to carbon pricing have been agreed to by First Ministers as part of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF). These provisions are listed in the Background section below. The PCF provides for annual reporting to First Ministers, transparent and regular public reporting to Canadians, and a comprehensive set of studies and reviews. Moreover, a separate study by the Standing Committee on Finance conducted in isolation would run counter to the collaborative approach agreed to by federal, provincial and territorial governments to implementing, reviewing and reporting on carbon pricing measures.

Result

Defeated.