By Andrew Thomson | UPDATED June 7, 2022 5:02pmET
In the House
The Conservatives have this motion for the final House of Commons opposition day before the summer break:
That, given that, (i) high inflation rates are driving the cost of living up for all Canadians,
(ii) the price of gasoline and diesel is hitting record-highs across Canada, making it more expensive for Canadians to get to work, transport goods, and to live their everyday lives,
(iii) the price of food is up more than 9.7% since last year, making it more difficult for Canadians to put food on the table,
(iv) contrary to the government's previous statements, heightened inflation is not transitory and is projected to persist,
(v) the decision to continue to impose ideologically-driven COVID-19 restrictions places a barrier on growth and recovery of the Canadian economy, the transportation of goods, and by consequence, the cost of those goods,
(vi) Canada has experienced the steepest decline in housing affordability in a generation,
the House call on the government to provide immediate relief to Canadians by:
(a) temporarily suspending the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collected on gasoline and diesel;
(b) suspending the carbon tax;
(c) eliminating tariffs on fertilizer;
(d) enabling the free flow of goods across the Canadian border, supporting the recovery of the tourism sector and protecting the jobs of federally-regulated employees by immediately removing all federal COVID-19 restrictions; and
(e) curbing speculation in the housing market by immediately launching a national public inquiry into money laundering.
Here's what interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen told reporters this morning ahead of the debate:
"People don't need a cheque from the government. They need taxes cut," says interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen on proposals to tackle the high cost of living. The House of Commons is set to debate her party's opposition day motion on affordability issues.#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/NSq0KT1YFx
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) June 7, 2022
Bergen also faced questions on the Conservative leadership race, ongoing delays at Canadian airports, and her party's bid to revive the special committee on China-Canada relations.
Watch the full news conference with Bergen, deputy leader Luc Berthold, and finance critic Dan Albas:
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, meanwhile, is focused on corporate profits:
“We see the record profits that corporations are setting and say that they need to pay their fair share,” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh tells reporters as he discusses his party’s proposal to tax and redistribute excess corporate profits to people in need. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/8efh21Knb5
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) June 7, 2022
Watch the full news conference:
Federal ministers also faced questions on the cost of living, along with delays at airports, COVID-19 vaccination mandates, modernizing NORAD, and Bill C-21:
Watch question period:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not in the chamber -- today he visits NORAD headquarters at Colorado Springs en route to the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles.
MPs also vote on the main estimates and supplementary estimates, and vote on the budget implementation bill (C-19) at report stage.
Watch Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault take questions after tabling a bill on Indigenous representation on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada:
And Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet on the firearms bill (C-21):
In Committee
Senior officials from the justice and public safety departments face questions from the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency. 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT
Also:
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc discusses Bill C-14 as the procedure committee begins an examination of the plan to ensure no provinces loses House of Commons seats in the upcoming redistribution process. (Alberta is currently slated to receive three new seats when the House of Commons map is redrawn based on new census numbers. B.C. and Ontario receive one seat each, while Quebec would lose a seat if the Elections Canada plan proceeds unchanged.) 12pm ET / 9am PT
Treasury Board President Mona Fortier discusses supplementary estimates at the government operations committee. 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT
Federal environment commissioner Jerry DeMarco and various government officials go before the public accounts committee; the focus is DeMarco's recent report on the government's plan for the low-carbon economy and worker transition in the energy sector. 11am ET / 8am PT
Elections Canada reports on 2019, 2021 federal campaigns
Stéphane Perrault, Canada’s chief electoral officer, holds a news conference on Parliament Hill following the release of his report on the last two federal elections.
The report contains several recommendations for changes to the Canada Elections Act.
Today in Politics Podcast: Mark Sutcliffe and Susan Delacourt
The prime minister calls China’s actions toward Canadian planes "provocative and irresponsible." What could high membership sales say about the future of the Conservative party? And polls show a majority of Canadians are comfortable with the Liberal-NDP deal.
