By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED 3:37pmET
WATCH: Conservative MPs on medical assistance in dying safeguards
Conservative MPs Michael Cooper and Michael Barrett hold a news conference concerning safeguards for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). They are joined by victims of alleged non-compliance with MAiD safeguards.
WATCH: Anand addresses Canadian Global Affairs Institute conference
Defence Minister Anita Anand delivers a keynote address at a conference hosted by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. The theme of the Ottawa conference is "After the War: What Kind of World for Canada?".
In the House
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's itinerary included question period:
Trudeau was earlier asked by reporters about his recent surprise visit to Ukraine and the re-opening of the Canadian embassy as Russia continues its invasion of the country. Trudeau also faced questions about the Bloc Québécois motion that proposes replacing the daily opening prayer in the House of Commons with a moment of reflection.
MPs vote on Bill C-19 at second reading, including Conservative amendments to the budget implementation bill accusing the government of failing to "address inflation, provide tax relief for Canadians and take immediate action to increase housing supply and tax evasion."
The Bloc Québécois has an opposition day motion calling for an end to the opening prayer in the House of Commons.
The full motion:
That, given that the House respects the beliefs and non-beliefs of all parliamentarians and of the general public and it is committed to the principle of the separation of religion and the state, the diversity of views and freedom of conscience while upholding the secularism and religious neutrality of the state and out of a desire for inclusiveness, the reading of the prayer at the opening of a sitting be abolished and replaced by a moment of reflection; and that, accordingly, Standing Order 30 be amended, in paragraphs (1) and (2), by substituting the following:
“(1) A moment of reflection be observed every day at the meeting of the House before any business is entered upon. (2) Not more than two minutes after the moment of reflection, the business of the House shall commence.”.
Watch: Bloc Québécois MP Martin Champoux discusses motion on eliminating prayer in the House of Commons chamber
MPs also return to a motion on temporary foreign workers.
That, in the opinion of the House, the government should develop and publicly release within 120 days following the adoption of this motion a comprehensive plan to expand pathways to permanent residency for temporary foreign workers, including international students, with significant Canadian work experience in sectors with persistent labour shortages, and such plan should incorporate the following elements:
(a) amending eligibility criteria under economic immigration programs to give more weight to significant in-Canada work experience and expand the eligible occupational categories and work experience at various skills levels;
(b) examining evidence and data gathered from recent programs such as Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway, Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), Rural and Northern Immigration Program (RNIP), and Agri-Food Pilot, and Provincial Nominee Process (PNP);
(c) incorporating data on labour market and skills shortages to align policy on immigrant-selection with persistent labour gaps;
(d) assessing ways to increase geographic distribution of immigration and encourage immigrant retention in smaller communities, as well as increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec;
(e) identifying mechanisms for ensuring flexibility in immigration-selection tools to react quicker to changes in labour market needs and regional economic priorities; and
(f) specifically considering occupations and essential sectors that are underrepresented in current economic immigration programs, such as health services, agriculture, manufacturing, service industry, trades, and transportation.
The NDP has this amendment:
That the motion be amended: (a) by adding after the words "comprehensive plan to expand" the following: "the economic immigration stream to allow workers of all skill levels to meet the full range of labour needs and"; and (b) in paragraph (f), by adding the word ", caregivers" after the words "health services".
Watch: NDP MPs propose solutions to housing crisis
NDP housing critic Jenny Kwan and finance critic Daniel Blaikie discuss their party’s proposals for dealing with the high cost of housing. They are joined by a renter who has been evicted from her home in the Ottawa area.
In Committee
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki and CSIS director David Vigneault appear at the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency. 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT
Ukrainian member of parliament Yevheniia Kravchuk, the mayors of Chernihiv and Trostyanets, and journalist Sevgil Musayeva speak to the human rights subcommittee. 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT
Today in Politics Podcast: Mark Sutcliffe and Susan Delacourt
Candidates prepare for the first Conservative leadership debate featuring everyone on the ballot; how much will the abortion issue become a factor in the race? And an alliance of organizations focused on women’s rights calls for an overhaul of the RCMP.
