►The first budget implementation bill (C-60) has returned from committee for report-stage debate.
The legislation contains new powers for the Treasury Board to oversee collective barganing negotiations involving Crown corporations such as the CBC and Canada Post.
Specifically, the government would:
- approve the corporation's bargaining mandate;
- place a Treasury Board official inside the negotiating room;
- approve conditions of employment for certain non-unionized employees.
The government plans to introduce a time allocation motion today for four additional days of second reading debate -- including today.
Also included in the 115-page legislation are several measures announced last month by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty:
- amending the Investment Canada Act’s rules for foreign state-owned enterprises looking to take over Canadian businesses, based on the December 2012 approval of the CNOOC-Nexen merger;
- new tax credit for first-time donors to charity;
- increase of excise taxes on manufactured tobacco (fine-cut and chewable versions, for example) to equal those paid on finished cigarettes;
- The Canadian International Development Agency will be merged into the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Development – though a separate minister will be maintained;
- enhancing the Adoption Expense Tax Credit for those adopting children, to include some expenses before the adoption process is complete;
- reduced tariffs on baby clothing and sports equipment (including hockey gear, skis, and golf clubs) to reduce the Canada-U.S. price gap;
- two-year extension of the temporary accelerated capital cost allowance for machinery and equipment;
- extension of a 15-per-cent tax credit for junior mineral exploration;
- GST/HST exemption for personal care services with a publicly-funded homemaker.
These don't represent all measures announced in the March budget; the 2012 budget required two omnibus implementation bills.
MORE: CPAC's 2013 Budget highlights
►Bill C-444 is also due for for report-stage debate. Impersonating a peace office while committing an offence would be an aggravating factor in determining a person's sentence. Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen introduced the bill.
►Bill S-15 is debated for the first time in the House of Commons. It creates the Sable Island National Park Reserve of Canada and restricts offshore oil drilling in the area
-Andrew Thomson
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