By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED 3:27pmET
Ministers discuss upcoming inquiry on use of Emergencies Act to end convoy protests
Federal ministers Bill Blair (emergency Preparedness), Dominic LeBlanc (intergovernmental affairs, infrastructure and communities) and Marco Mendicino (public safety) speak with reporters on Parliament Hill as the federal government calls an independent inquiry into its decision to invoke the Emergencies Act in February to end convoy protests.
Today was the statutory deadline for the government to call the inquiry.
A slice of reaction from NDP MP Matthew Green, one of the chairs of the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency:
NDP MP Matthew Green, co-chair of the House of Commons committee reviewing use of the Emergencies Act to end convoy protests, reacted to the federal government's calling of an inquiry on its decision to invoke the Act.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/qlEk5eoCWt
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) April 25, 2022
In the House
Debate continues on the government’s budget motion: That this House approve in general the budgetary policy of the government.
A final vote is expected Wednesday after votes on the traditional opposition amendment and third-party subamendment.
The Conservative amendment:
That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:
“the House not approve the budgetary policy of the government since it fails to: (a) rein in spending in order to control inflation; (b) provide Canadians with tax relief; and (c) take immediate action to increase housing supply.”
And the Bloc Québécois subamendment:
That the amendment be amended by adding the following:
“(d) increase health transfers as unanimously requested by Quebec, the provinces and territories; (e) increase the old age pension for those aged 65 to 74; (f) take concrete action against climate change; (g) offer solutions to the rising cost of living for individuals and their businesses; and (h) consult and respect the jurisdictions of Quebec, the provinces and territories.”.
Watch today's question period:
MPs also consider a motion on long-term care from Liberal MP Ken McDonald that:
(a) the House recognize that (i) COVID-19 has tragically exposed long-standing issues affecting long-term care facilities across the country and the frontline workers who care for residents, (ii) we need to make sure the conditions of work reflect the care standards our seniors deserve, (iii) while the management of long-term care facilities is under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, we share the goal of ensuring safer, better care for seniors; and
(b) in the opinion of the House, the government should work with the provinces and territories to (i) improve the quality and availability of long-term care homes and beds, (ii) implement strict infection prevention and control measures, including through more provincial and territorial facility inspections for long-term care homes, (iii) develop a safe long-term care act collaboratively to ensure that seniors are guaranteed the care they deserve, no matter where they live.
In Committee
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem and senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers go before the Standing Committee on Finance less than two week after the bank hiked its benchmark interest rate by 1% -- and less than a week after Statistic Canada reported inflation at its highest level since 1991 (6.7%). 11am ET / 8am PT
Also:
Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough appears at the human resources committee, which is considering labour shortages and working conditions in the care sector. 12pm ET / 9am PT
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser goes before the Special Committee on Afghanistan. 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT
Today in Politics Podcast: Mark Sutcliffe and Peter Van Dusen
MPs are back in the House of Commons today with a focus on the budget. The Conservative leadership race puts a spotlight on affordability. And government officials speak out against sexual violence in Ukraine.
