Parliament update – Week of May 8, 2017

This week in Parliament, we discussed topics including genetically modified foods, railway crossings, and palliative care.

The following was debated in the House:

• Bill C-338 – An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (punishment) (Second Reading)

• Conservative Motion – Minister of National Defence

• Bill C-44 – Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1 (Second Reading)

• Bill C-277 – Framework on Palliative Care in Canada Act (Report Stage)

• Bill C-4 – An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Act (Consideration of Senate amendments)

• Bill C-291 – An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (genetically modified food) (Second Reading)

• NDP Motion – Canada Infrastructure Bank

• Bill S-231 – An Act to amend the Canada Evidence Act and the Criminal Code (protection of journalistic sources) (Second Reading)

• Bill C-23 – An Act respecting the preclearance of persons and good in Canada and the United States (Report Stage)

• Bill C-7 – An Act to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act and other Acts and to provide for certain other measures (Consideration of Senate amendments)

• Bill C-322 – An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act (road crossings) (Second Reading)

On Monday, I took part in the Conservative motion, asking the Minister of National Defence two questions on how he still thought

he had the respect and trust of the people or the military: http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=42&Ses=1&DocId=8927248 on pages 20 and 23.

On Tuesday, I was extremely disappointed to learn that six Liberal Members used their majority in the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to vote against Bill S-217, effectively defeating it without a vote by the House of Commons. This bill, also known as Wynn’s Law, would have closed a fatal loophole in the Criminal Code, a loophole that cost Const. Wynn his life when he was murdered by a career criminal who was out on bail.

In the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (ENVI), we continued our review of The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the consideration of a draft report. For more information on these meetings, visit: www.parl.gc.ca/Committees/en/ENVI

This week, I attended¬ 12 meetings and two events. My next update will be on the happenings of Parliament as it continues to sit next week.