By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED 4:14pmET
In the House
Watch today's question period in the House of Commons:
Ahead of Thursday's federal budget, MPs consider a Conservative opposition-day motion calling for the government to meet NATO's spending target of 2% of national GDP:
That, given that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance has made an immeasurable contribution to peace, security, and prosperity for all its members, the House call on the government to increase spending on national defence to at least two per cent of Canada's gross domestic product, in accordance with NATO's 2014 Wales Summit Declaration.
Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh spoke this morning on his budget expectations, following his party's supply and confidence agreement with the Liberal government.
"We used our power in this minority govt to deliver help for people, for Canadians who need help now. And so in this budget we want to see some of that help realized," NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says of federal budget priorities, including dental care and tackling housing crisis. pic.twitter.com/BGbDVjYuXz
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) April 5, 2022
Watch the full news conference:
Also today: the government tabled new legislation for web giants to compensate Canadian news media organizations when news content is shared on their platforms.
Watch Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez address reporters on Parliament Hill:
WATCH: Human rights groups urge greater federal action on online hate and genocide education
Representatives of various human rights organizations hold a news conference on Parliament Hill to call on the federal government to take more action on online hate and genocide education. They also mark the seventh anniversary of the House of Commons designating April as Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month.
Speaking with reporters are representatives from the Armenian National Committee of Canada; Project Abraham; the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA); Romanipe; the Rwandan Humura Association; the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC); the Rohingya Human Rights Network; and the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project. They are joined by Liberal MP Ali Ehsassi.
WATCH: Conservative MP discusses bill to grow cryptoasset sector
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner speaks with reporters on Parliament Hill about her private member's bill aimed at encouraging the growth of the cryptoasset sector.
Bill C-249 calls for the federal government to set up a national framework to grow the sector in Canada and to consult with experts in developing cryptoasset policy.
Cryptoassets are digital assets that are secured by cryptographic systems.
In Committee
Top officials from the Public Health of Agency of Canada face questions from the public accounts committee on the enforcement of COVID-19 quarantine and testing orders, the subject of a recent report by Auditor General Karen Hogan (also appearing today). 11am ET / 8am PT
Jerry DeMarco, the federal environment commissioner, is among those testifying at the environment committee on fossil fuel subsidies. 11am ET / 8am PT
Today in Politics Podcast: Mark Sutcliffe and Susan Delacourt
Jean Charest says Canada is not prepared for military conflict. A report on sexual misconduct in the military will be released on May 20th. And Mélanie Joly says it is clear war crimes have been committed in Ukraine.
