Today: February 4, 2022

Today: February 4, 2022

By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED 4:33pmET

Premiers hold joint news conference

British Columbia Premier John Horgan, current chair of the Council of the Federation, led a virtual news conference of provincial and territorial premiers, who are repeating their call for the federal government to boost its share of health-care costs to 35% via the Canada Health Transfer.

Premiers also faced questions on the anti-restriction and anti-vaccine mandate protests across the country:

In the House

Debate continues on the bill to implement measures from the December economic and fiscal update.

C-8 includes:

  • $1.7 billion to the provinces and territories for rapid testing
  • a Small Businesses Air Quality Improvement Tax Credit for ventilation and air filtration upgrades
  • expansion of the School Supplies Tax Credit
  • a tax credit to return fuel charge proceeds to farmers in provinces subject to the federal carbon backstop
  • the Liberal pledge to impose a 1% annual tax on the value of "vacant or underused residential property directly or indirectly owned by non-resident non-Canadians."

Watch today's question period:

The Protest Continues

Outside the Parliament Buildings, protest leaders vow to remain in place "for as long as it takes" until all COVID-19 mandates are ended across Canada -- despite the continuing disruption to life and business in downtown Ottawa and tension with residents.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet is calling for more aggressive federal action, while Conservative MPs are publicly split:  

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeated his desire yesterday for protesters to leave Ottawa, including those "harassing people who dare wear masks" or "showing hateful symbols."

But there are no plans at the moment to use the military, he said.

Here's what Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told reporters today when asked about the federal response:

Between 300 and 400 trucks and 1,000 to 2,000 people are expected to try and join the protest this weekend -- while up to 1,000 counter-protesters are also preparing to be in downtown Ottawa.

Ottawa police now plan a "surge and contain" strategy that will include 150 additional officers in the city core to target acts of harassment, hate, intimidation, and mischief, Chief Peter Sloly said this morning. 

Police will also "harden" the demonstration perimeter with concrete and heavy equipment barriers to contain protesters and block roadways.

Sloly also disclosed death threats in the last 48 hours against him and other City of Ottawa officials.

Watch the full news conference:

WATCH: Federal COVID-19 Update

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and federal officials brief reporters.

In Committee

The Mining Association of Canada, Frontier Lithium, and academic experts provide testimony to the House of Commons industry committee on the sourcing and processing of critical minerals. 1pm ET / 10am PT

Yves Giroux, the parliamentary budget officer, goes before the government operations committee for questions about his report on the Polar Icebreaker Project, now estimated to cost $7.25 billion. 1pm ET / 10am PT

Federal officials go before the status of women committee, which is studying intimate partner and domestic violence. 1pm ET / 10am PT

The Indigenous affairs committee hears testimony on barriers to Indigenous economic development. 1pm ET / 10am PT

Today in Politics: Mark Sutcliffe and Joanna Smith

Trudeau responds to questions about using military to end protest in Ottawa. parliamentary committee calls on GoFundMe to testify about fundraising behind protest. Conservatives look toward future with a new leader. 

Here's your morning update with Mark Sutcliffe: