Top news
- Parliament has risen for the summer, with the House of Commons completing its work on Wednesday and the Senate finishing yesterday. As usual, the last few days of the sitting saw many pieces of legislation advance at the last minute. One high profile bill that did not reach the finish line is the government’s gun control bill C-21 which ended the session at the committee stage in the Senate.
- Voters in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba went to the polls in four ridings on Monday to fill vacant seats in the House. The election produced no changes to the standing in the House, with the Liberal and Conservative each retaining the two seats they had previously held. The winners were Liberal Anna Gainey in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount, Conservative Arpan Khanna in Oxford, Conservative Branden Leslie in Portage-Lisgar, and Ben Carr in Winnipeg South Centre.
- A by-election has been called for Calgary Heritage where voters will go to the polls on July 24th to fill the vacant seat.
- Minister Leblanc is discussing with opposition parties on the next steps to address foreign interference as opposition parties continue to push for a formal public inquiry. The government has said it seeks a consensus on how to move forward best.
Government announcements
- Minister Champagne announced the creation of the $350M to the Initiative for Sustainable Aviation Technology of Canada. This new funding from the Strategic Innovation Fund will create a network that will collaborate with companies in Canada’s aerospace sector to research and develop projects supporting the green transition.
- The federal government released the UN Declaration Act Action Plan to outline its plan to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The government revealed the chosen design for the National Monument to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan. The new monument will be located across the street from the National War Memorial.
- The government revealed the chosen design for the National Monument to Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan. The new monument will be located across the street from the National War Memorial.
- The government has invited the three selected pre-qualified suppliers to respond to a Request for Proposals to procure an administrator of the Canadian Dental Plan.
- The Prime Minister announced the opening of the process to select the replacement of Supreme Court Justice Russel Brown following his recent resignation.
- The government announced its plans to move forward with changes to pesticide management, including opening consultations on proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Regulations.
- Minister Champagne announced that 24 projects had received $15M in funding through the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator Network. The funding is to advance the commercialization of made-in-Canada mining technology.
- Federal and provincial governments released the joint Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, outlining steps to address the threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- The federal government has renewed 8 collective agreements, including those of PSAC workers who went on strike earlier this year following the ratification of the new contracts by union members.
In the House of Commons
- Bill C-9: This bill to create a new process to review misconduct by federal judges received Royal Assent.
- Bill C-13: This bill which amended the Official Languages Act to strengthen protections of the use of French in Quebec, received Royal Assent.
- Bill C-18: This bill to require major online internet platforms to negotiate payments for links to Canadian news stories received Royal Assent after the House rejected most of the amendments made by the Senate. While the government has yet to implement the regulations to bring the new regime into effect, Facebook owner Meta has already indicated it will start blocking all news links for Canadian users. Google has been holding discussions with the federal government as it decides whether it will begin blocking Canadian news links from its search results.
- Bill C-22: This bill which will create the Canada Disability Benefit, received Royal Assent.
- Bill C-35: This bill to create a legislative framework for Canada’s early learning and childcare system was approved at 3rd reading in the House.
- Bill C-40: This bill to create a new independent body to review possible miscarriages of justice passed 2nd reading in the House.
- Bill C-41: This bill granting the Minister of Public Safety the ability to exempt humanitarian aid from the provisions of the Criminal Code that prevent organizations from operating in regions like Afghanistan received Royal Assent.
- Bill C-42: This bill to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act passed 3rd reading in the House and was introduced in the Senate.
- Bill C-45: This bill to amend the First Nations Fiscal Management Act received Royal Assent.
- Bill C-47: This bill which implements measures from the 2023 budget received Royal Assent.
- Bill C-51: This bill to implement a self-government treaty with the Whitecap Dakota Nation of Saskatchewan received Royal Assent after the House and Senate agreed to its expedited passage.
- Bill C-52: This bill which implements a number of changes to Canada’s transportation laws including new requirements for Canadian airlines was introduced in the House for 1st reading.
- Bill C-53: This bill to recognize treaties with Metis governments in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario was introduced and approved at 2nd reading in the House.
- Bill S-8: This bill to amend the Immigration and Protection Act received Royal Assent
- Bill S-12: This bill to rewrite the legislation of the Sex Offenders Registry in response to a court decision passed 3rd reading in the Senate and is now at 1st reading in the House.
- Bill C-224: This bill calling for the creation of a national strategy for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting received Royal Assent.
- Bill S-246: This bill to create a Lebanese Heritage Month received Royal Assent.
- Bill C-275: This bill to protect the biosecurity of farms passed 2nd reading in the House.
- Bill C-282: This bill to protect Canada’s supply management sector from trade negotiations passed 3rd reading in the House.
- Bill C-321: This bill to create a new Criminal Code offence related to the assault of healthcare professionals passed 2nd reading in the House.
Economic numbers of the week
- 1.1%: Retails sales in Canada grew by 1.1% in April to reach $65.9 billion.
Coming Up
Prime Minister Trudeau will travel to Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland from June 25-26 to attend the Nordic Prime Ministers annual meeting as a special guest.
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