Today: May 19, 2022

Today: May 19, 2022

By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED 6:07pmET

Federal ministers confirm Huawei and ZTE ban from Canada's 5G network

Canada has joined other allies in banning Huawei and ZTE from the country's 5G wireless infrastructure, and companies will have to remove existing equipment from the two companies, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said this afternoon.

Asked why Canada took so long to formalize the ban compared to other countries, specifically "Five Eyes" intelligence allies, Champagne said the federal government was not in a "race."

Watch the news conference (no interpretation):

WATCH: Trudeau reacts to Jason Kenney's departure as Alberta premier

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked ahead of today's cabinet meeting about Alberta Premier Jason Kenney's announcement that he will resign as leader of the United Conservative Party.

(Trudeau was also asked about a new poll showing that a majority of Quebecers are against increasing the province's immigration levels, and the possible expansion of NATO as Finland and Sweden apply to join the military alliance.)

Kenney announced last night in Calgary that he intends to step down after a slim majority of 51.4% of party members offered him support in a leadership review. 

Kenney said the number does not provide adequate support for him to continue as United Conservative leader.

Former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith today discussed her plan to succeed Kenney:

And reaction today in Calgary from provincial NDP leader Rachel Notley:

In the House

Watch question period at 2:15pm ET / 11:15am PT.

The Conservatives present an opposition day motion on airport delays:

That, given that,

(i) Canadians are currently experiencing unacceptable wait times at Canadian airports, even though airports are still operating at reduced capacity,

(ii) current restrictions have been cited by experts as ineffective and contributing to additional delays, costs, and confusion, as well as acute labour shortages,

(iii) Canada's international allies have moved to lift COVID-19 restrictions at airports and other points of entry,

(iv) Canada is losing business and economic opportunities,

the House call on the government to immediately revert to pre-pandemic rules and service levels for travel.

MPs also debate a bill from former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer to end the Bank of Canada's exemption from review by the Auditor General. 

Scheer argues this would put Canada in line with central banks in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. 

But the debate comes one day after Ed Fast's departure as Conservative finance critic after criticizing Pierre Poilievre for vowing to fire Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem. 

Fast, who has endorsed Jean Charest for leader, warned against "tampering" with the central bank's independence. 

An evening statement from Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen said Fast "has publicly stated his support for one of the Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership candidates and would like to be able to offer more dedicated support to that team."

In the House: Questioning the Minister

Public Services and Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi faces an evening of questions on her department's budget and plan for coming year.

Each fiscal year the Official Opposition chooses two departments for an estimates review in Committee of the Whole. (They must be held by May 31; Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joyce Murray is scheduled for May 30.)

Ministers or their parliamentary secretaries appear in the House of Commons chamber for up to four hours. 

The ministerial sessions stem from a standing order adopted by the House in 2001, allowing the Opposition to choose two federal departments or agencies for review by a Committee of the Whole.

According to House of Commons Procedure and Practice, the new custom would permit “a more meaningful examination of government estimates” and confirm “the financial oversight role of the House of Commons.”

The corresponding minister or parliamentary secretary sits in the front row of the government benches and prepares to act as a witness.

Outsiders are almost never allowed to walk beyond the Bar of the House, but in this case a small number of department officials are permitted to sit near the minister to provide advice.

Committees of the Whole date back to the 1500s and the creation of the committee system in England’s Parliament.

Major bills were debated in a less restrictive forum than formal proceedings of the House of Commons overseen by a Speaker.

Canadian legislatures adopted the custom with little change until 1968, when the current system of standing committees was established.

Today, the House of Commons switches to this less formal setting on rare occasions. One notable example: the 2008 official apology to residential school victims.

Sitting in a Committee of the Whole allowed First Nations representatives to sit on the floor of the Commons and deliver remarks after the prime minister and opposition leaders spoke.

The Speaker leaves their customary chair and moves to the Clerk’s seat at the main table on the Commons floor.

In Committee

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino faces questions at the Commons public safety committee as part of the estimates process. Top officials from the RCMP, CSIS, CBSA, Correctional Service of Canada, and Parole Board of Canada accompany the minister. 12pm ET / 9am PT

Mendicino also spoke with reporters about new legislation for public complaints about the Canada Border Services Agency. He is joined by Michelaine Lahaie, chairperson of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau appears at the agriculture committee to discuss estimates. 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT

Federal lobbying commissioner Nancy Bélanger goes before the ethics committee as part of the estimates process. 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT

The finance committee continues to hear witnesses on various aspects of the budget implementation bill. 11am ET / 8am PT and 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT

Today in Politics Podcast: Mark Sutcliffe and John Ivison

Jason Kenney steps down as leader of the United Conservative Party in Alberta. Ed Fast is no longer the Conservative Party’s finance critic after speaking out against Pierre Poilievre's vow to fire the Bank of Canada governor. And Russia closes CBC's Moscow bureau in response to Canada banning Russian state TV.