Ontario Morning News Round-up for November 25

• On the same day Toronto Mayor John Tory called for $2 tolls for the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway and a new tax on hotel rooms, a City  staff report called for the implementation of a far broader range of revenue generators.
• The Ontario Government has announced its next step in its ongoing efforts to reduce the gender wage gap – it’s creating a new working group  to advise it on the issue. The new group will provide guidance on how government can address specific issues and initiatives identified in the Gender Wage Gap Final Report, including:
  • Shared parental leaves;
  • A gender workplace analysis tool;
  • A social awareness strategy to help understand the effects of gender bias, the gender wage gap and the importance of closing the gap; and
  • Reviewing pay equity legislation.
• The Ontario Federation of Labour is directing the 54 unions under its umbrella to negotiate paid leave for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in all collective agreements. The OFL was at Queen’s Park Thursday to talk with Labour Minister Kevin Flynn about enshrining such leave. NDP MPP Peggy Sattler currently has a private members’ bill at committee. Her Bill 26 would amend both the Employment Standards Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act to include up to 10 days of paid leave and accommodation for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Ontario Op-Eds and Editorials

• Martin Regg Cohn believes that the constant accusations of corruption and criminality related to Liberal operatives’ activities in the Sudbury by-election that elected Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault, cheapen Ontario politics.
• Bob Rae supports Toronto mayor John Tory’s proposals for toll roads but says low and moderate income Ontarians must be protected. The Star’s lead editorial also supports the mayor’s proposal while Thomas Walkom warns that while Tory’s proposal should be supported, the history of transportation planning in Toronto is such, that things may still go awry.
• Bob Hepburn outlines the Wynne Liberals’ three-pronged strategy for re-election in 2018.

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Search up-to-date Canada Fact Check databases for the full text, approval status, committee hearings and other details of all Ontario bills from the current session here!___________________________________________________________________________________

Projected Ontario Legislative Business for Friday, Nov. 25

Main Chamber Business

There is no House business scheduled for today.

Ontario Legislature Committee meetings

There are no Legislative committee meetings scheduled for today.

Federal Morning News Round-up

• The Liberals have introduced new legislation that repeals changes the Harper government made to Canada’s Election laws. Amongst the changes being made under Bill C-33 are: the reinstatement of  voter information cards as identification; allowing vouching; and creating a national register of electors to pre-register youth aged 14 to 17.
• According to anti-poverty group Campaign 2000, Canada’s child poverty rate has jumped from 15.8 per cent in 1989 when parliament passed a resolution to abolish child poverty, to 18.3 per cent today. According to its annual report, for those under age 6, the rate is almost 20 per cent nationally and closer to 45 per cent for young children in Nunavut.
• Canada’s premiers intend to push the Trudeau government hard on increasing health care transfers when the Premiers meet the Prime Minister in two weeks ostensibly to talk about climate change.
• The Liberals are admitting that more could be done to plug holes in the new CPP enhancement – but that does not include amending the bill that includes the omissions. Responding to pressure from New Democrats in the committee studying Bill C-26, regarding omissions that hurt Canadians who temporarily drop out of the workforce to raise their children or to cope with an illness, the government admitted there was a problem but promised only to consult with the provinces when federal and provincial Finance Ministers meet in December.

Op-Eds and Editorials

• Gerry Caplan makes the case that despite ratifying the United Nations Convention against Torture in 1987, Canada is guilty of many of the practices banned in the convention. Caplan says that “Torture – physical, psychological or both – has been inflicted by our prisons and our security and intelligence services on many Canadians – a disproportionate number of them indigenous or people with a Middle Eastern background – as well as on foreign citizens”. Caplan gives as an example, Adam Capay, the young indigenous man kept in solitary for more than 1,500 days in an Ontario correctional facility.
• Thomas Homer Dixon says Donald Trump is “a bizarre hybrid of an idiot savant and a Mafia don” and that these personality traits are likely to result in constant “bedlam”. You think?
• John Ivison takes a swipe at the Trudeau Liberals’ “cash for access” fundraising tactics.

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Search up-to-date Canada Fact Check databases for the full text, approval status, committee hearings and other details of all Federal bills and regulations from the current session here!

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Projected House Business for Friday, Nov. 25:

Main Chamber Business

The House is meeting between 10:00 – 7:00 p.m. today.

• 10:30 – Government Business – Second reading debate on Bill C-18 – An Act to amend the Rouge National Urban Park Act, the Parks Canada Agency Act and the Canada National Parks Act.  Watch Here!
• 2:15 – Question Period. Watch Here!
• 3:15 p.m.  – Government Business – Second reading debate on Bill C-30 – Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act. Watch Here!
• 5:45 p.m. Private member’s Business. Bill C-274 – Mr. Caron (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques) — An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (transfer of small business or family farm or fishing corporation). Watch Here!

Projected  House Committee Business for Friday, Nov. 25

• There are no Committee meetings scheduled for today.

Projected Ontario Legislative Business for Thursday, Oct. 20 (subject to change):

• 9:00 a.m. – Government Notice of Motion Number 2. Watch Live!
  

  Mr. Naqvi – That, pursuant to Standing Order 47 and notwithstanding any other Standing Order or Special Order of the House relating to Bill 37, An Act to amend the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007, and the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996, when the Bill is next called as a Government Order, the Speaker shall put every question necessary to dispose of the Second Reading stage of the Bill without further debate or amendment and at such time the Bill shall be Ordered referred to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs; and

  That the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, October 27, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of public hearings on the Bill.

  Second Reading of Bill 41, Patients First Act.  Watch Live!

  10:45 a.m. – Question Period. Watch Live!

• 2:00 p.m. Private Members’ business: Watch Live!
  • Private Members’ Motion Number 29: Ms. MacLeod – That, in the opinion of this House, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) should appoint an advisory committee to review jurisdictions where a process is in place to consider lifesaving experimental and high cost healthcare treatments and otherwise exceptional circumstances for patients. The MOHLTC advisory committee should consider Australia’s Special Access Scheme; New Zealand’s Exceptional Circumstances Framework and High Cost Treatment Pool and the UK’s National Health Service’s Experimental and Unproven Treatments Policy with the view to establish a compassionate catastrophic care program in Ontario for those suffering from rare disease or whose treatments may be experimental or complimentary but are not yet covered by Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP).
  • Second Reading of Bill 26, An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 in respect of leave and accommodation for victims of domestic or sexual violence and to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act in respect of information and instruction concerning domestic and sexual violence. Sponsor: Peggy Sattler.
  • Second Reading of Bill 44, An Act to proclaim the month of March as Bangladeshi Heritage Month. Sponsor: Lorenzo Berardinetti
  • Voting on all Private Members’ business takes place at 4:30. Watch Live!

Projected Ontario Legislature Committee meetings for Thursday, Oct. 20

• There are no scheduled committee meetings today.

Search the full text, approval status, committee hearings and other details of all Ontario bills from the current session here!

Projected House business for Thursday, Oct. 20 (subject to change):

The House is meeting between 10:00p.m. – 7:00 p.m. today. Watch All Chamber Proceedings Here!

• 10:30 a.m. – Government Business: Supply Motion may be debated. Watch Here!
• 11:00 a.m. Opposition Motion — Ms. Rempel (Calgary Nose Hill) — Genocide against the Yazidi people. Watch Here!
• 2:15 – Question Period. Watch Here!
• 3:15 – Government Business: Supply Motion may be debated. Watch Here!
• 5:30 p.m.Bill C-240 , Private Members’ Business. An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit — first aid) may be debated at second reading. Watch Here!

Projected Committee meetings for Thursday, Oct. 20

• 8:45 – 10:45 – The Special Committee on Electoral Reform is meeting on Parliament Hill today. Watch here!
• 8:45 – 10:45 The Standing Committee on Health examining the Opioid Crisis in Canada is meeting on Parliament Hill this morning. Watch Here!
• 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. – The Special Committee on Electoral Reform is meeting on Parliament Hill this afternoon. Watch here!
• Get a full list of House committee meetings scheduled for today on the House committee page.

Search the full text, approval status, committee hearings and other details of all Federal bills from the current session here!

There is no legislative or committee business scheduled for the Ontario Legislature on Friday, October 7.

Search the full text, approval status, committee hearings and other details of all Ontario bills from the current session here!

Projected House business for Friday, Oct. 7 (subject to change):

The House is meeting between 10:00 – 2:00 p.m. today. Watch All Chamber Proceedings Here!

• Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Income Tax Act, may continue to be debated at third reading;
• 11:15 – Question Period. Watch Here!
• Bill C-24, An Act to amend the Salaries Act and to make a consequential amendment to the Financial Administration Act, may be debated at second reading;
• Bill C-238, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for the safe disposal of lamps containing mercury (National Strategy for Safe Disposal of Lamps Containing Mercury Act), may continue to be debated at second reading.

Projected Committee meetings for Friday, Oct. 7

• The Special Committee on Electoral Reform is meeting in Fredercton, New Brunswick today.
• Get a full list of House committee meetings scheduled for today on the House committee page.

Projected House business for Thursday, Oct. 6 (subject to change):

The House is meeting between 10:00 – 7:00 p.m. today. Watch All Chamber Proceedings Here!

• 10:00 a.m. Debate over possible changes in Standing Order House rules. Watch Here!
• Approximately 2:20 – Question Period. Watch Here!
• 5:30 p.m.: Bill C-230, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (firearm — definition of variant), may continue to be debated at second reading. Watch Here! 

Projected Committee meetings for Thursday, Oct. 6

• 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – Standing Committee on International Trade committee will continue their study of Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). Listen here!
• 3: 30 – 5:30 The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security will continue its study of Canada’s National Security Framework . Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, will appear at committee at 3:30. Watch Here!
• Get a full list of House committee meetings scheduled for today on the House committee page.

Projected Ontario Legislative Business for Thursday, Oct. 6 (subject to change):

• 9:00 a.m. – Second Reading of Bill 7, An Act to amend or repeal various Acts with respect to housing and planning.  Watch Live!
• 10:45 a.m. – Question Period. Watch Live!
• 2:00 p.m. Private Members’ business: Watch Live!
  • Private Members’ Motion Number 27: “That in the opinion of this House, the Province of Ontario, upon passage of this resolution, act to replace the outdated Fluoridation Act with an updated section of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, and remove the portions of the Ontario Municipal Act that allow a municipality to either opt out of fluoridation of its drinking water….”
  • Second Reading debate of Bill 17, Saving the Girl Next Door Act. Sponsor: Laurie Scott.
  • Second Reading debate of Bill 36, An Act to proclaim the month of November as Albanian Heritage Month. Sponsor: Shafiq Qaadri.
  • Voting on all Private Members’ business takes place at 4:30.

Projected Ontario Legislature Committee meetings for Thursday, Oct. 6

• There are no scheduled committee meetings today.

Search the full text, approval status, committee hearings and other details of all Ontario bills from the current session here!

Projected House business for Wednesday, Oct. 5 (subject to change):

The House is meeting between 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. today. Watch All Chamber Proceedings Here!

• Approximately 2:20 – Question Period. Watch Here!
• A motion on the government’s decision to ratify the Paris Agreement, may continue debate;
• Bill C-225, Protection of Pregnant Women and Their Preborn Children Act (Cassie and Molly’s Law), may continue to be debated at second reading.

Projected Committee meetings for Wednesday, Oct. 5

• 3:30 – The Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee will continue their study of Suicide Among Indigenous Peoples and Communities. Watch here!
• 3: 30 – The Standing Committee on the Status of Women will continue its study of Violence against Young Women and Girls in Canada. Listen here!
• Get a full list of House committee meetings scheduled for today on the House committee page.

Projected Ontario Legislative Business for Wednesday, Oct. 5 (subject to change):

• 9:00 a.m. – Second Reading of Bill 27, An Act to reduce the regulatory burden on business may continue to be debated at second reading.  Watch Live!
• 10:45 a.m. – Question Period. Watch Live!
•  3:30 p.m. –  Debate on NDP Opposition Motion opposing Hydro privatization. Watch Live!

Projected Ontario Legislature Committee meetings for Wednesday, Oct. 5

• 12:30 p.m. – The Standing Committee on Public Accounts will meet to review the Public Accounts of the Province (Chapter 2, 2015 Annual Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario) . Room No. 151. Watch Live!
• 1:00 p.m. – The Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly will meet to consider Bill 64, An Act to amend the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act and the Employment Standards Act, 2000. Room 1.
• 3:45 p.m. – Standing Committee on Estimates will meet to review the 2016-2017 Estimates of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Room No. 151. Watch Live!