By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED 1:37pmET
In the House
The parties held their regular caucus meetings ahead of this afternoon's question period (2:15pm ET / 11:15am PT).
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, speaking with reporters ahead of the weekly Liberal caucus meeting, responds to questions on whether Ukrainians arriving to Canada on work visas will have access to refugee settlement services.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/eKNTqmn6LK
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) March 30, 2022
Speaking briefly with reporters after Liberal caucus meeting, Defence Minister Anita Anand comments on former chief of the defence staff Jonathan Vance's guilty plea on one count of obstruction of justice.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/6Igi4SnzlL
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) March 30, 2022
“Fighting inflation, getting spending under control, alleviating the tax burden on Canadians. These are things I’m looking for,” Ed Fast, the Conservative finance critic, told reporters on Parliament Hill when asked about his priorities for the upcoming federal budget. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/oAofuRkWCA
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) March 30, 2022
Debate continues on the re-introduced legislation on mandatory minimum sentences that would represent a major shift in drug policy away from incarceration and towards treatment.
Bill C-5 would repeal mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offences that disproportionately affect Indigenous and Black offenders and those struggling with addictions. Judges would have more flexibility to impose conditional sentence orders (CSOs) when an offender faces less than two years imprisonment but does not pose a public safety threat.
C-5 would also force police and prosecutors to consider different options for simple possession charges, including treatment programs or conditional sentences for those posing no threat to public safety.
Indigenous people comprise roughly 30% of the federal prison population despite being only 5% of Canada’s overall population. The disparity is even higher in many provincial jails. Black Canadians make up 10% of the federal prison population, compared to 3.5% of the overall population.
Watch Tuesday's PrimeTime Politics: Feds release new emissions plan
MPs debate the government’s emissions reduction plan: Julie Dabrusin (Liberal), Kyle Seeback (Conservative), and Laurel Collins (NDP). And we have a reality check on federal climate policy with Caroline Brouillette (Climate Action Network).
Also: Christian Leuprecht (Queen’s University and Royal Military College) discusses Russia-Ukraine negotiations and Canada’s possible role.
Today in Politics Podcast: Mark Sutcliffe and Dan Leger
The Finance Minister confirms a date for the federal budget. Reaction to the Liberals’ plan to drastically cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030. Ukraine floats the idea of naming Canada as a potential security guarantor, as talks with Russia continue.
