Today is an NDP opposition day in the House of Commons. Here is the motion from natural resources critic Peter Julian:
That this House agrees with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, that is asking the government, with respect to the Investment Canada Act, to:
(a) clarify the net benefit test;
(b) include parameters concerning reciprocity;
(c) improve the transparency of decisions; and
(d) set specific criteria for state-owned companies to meet regarding net benefit requirements for foreign company takeover bids in order to protect the Canadian economy from potential foreign government interference.
The motion comes after Friday's announcement of government approval of two takeovers by foreign state-owned energy enterprises: China's CNOOC and Malaysia's Petronas. Prime Minister Stephen Harper also discussed new criteria for similar future transactions.
Debate also begins on a New Democrat private member's bill (C-419) to make English and French-language proficiency mandatory for officers of Parliament. The rule would apply to the following appointments:
- Auditor General
- Chief Electoral Officer
- Official Languages Commissioner
- Privacy Commissioner
- Information Commissioner
- Senate Ethics Officer
- Conflict of interest and Ethics Commissioner
- Commissioner of Lobbying
- Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
- President of the Public Service Commission of Canada
Controversy surrounded the 2011 appointment of Auditor General Michael Ferguson, who promised to learn French within one year.
Several votes on supplementary estimates are also scheduled.
-Andrew Thomson
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