'We need to move': Liberals defend plan to ram through major projects bill before Canada Day
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is coming under fire for its plan to push its internal trade and major projects bill through the House of Commons next week at high speed.
Article content
Government House leader Steven MacKinnon has put a motion on notice that would push Bill C-5 through the House of Commons by the end of next week at an unusually rapid pace — leaving only a few hours to hear from civil society groups, stakeholders and experts.
Article content
Article content
Article content
If the motion is adopted, it would quickly move through debate at second reading stage and a vote, after which the bill would be referred to a House of Commons committee.
Article content
Article content
Members of the committee would meet Tuesday and Wednesday to gather evidence from witnesses, before undertaking a clause-by-clause consideration of the legislation.
Article content
The expectation would be for the committee's report to be presented to the House on Thursday, and debate and a vote at third reading to happen on Friday — which is the last calendar day before all MPs will be going back to their respective ridings for the summer.
C-5 would grant the government sweeping powers to quickly approve major natural resource and infrastructure projects once cabinet deems them to be in the national interest.
Article content
The legislation also looks to break down internal trade barriers and make it easier for workers to take jobs in other provinces.
Article content
MacKinnon rejected a call from the Bloc Québécois this week to split the landmark legislation in two — so the House could speed through the less contentious internal-trade provisions while putting the controversial major projects portion under the microscope.
Article content
Article content
Luc Berthold, the deputy House leader for the Conservatives, declined to say if his party would support the fast-tracking of C-5 and said discussions between all parties were ongoing.
Article content
'When a minority government decides it wants certain things, it needs to negotiate with all parties. So, we're awaiting the result of these negotiations,' he said on Thursday.
Article content
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet said his party would oppose the motion 'with vigour.'
Article content
'The kind of impetuosity from the prime minister to supercharge the legislative agenda in the short term and to bypass, from the very start of his mandate, the usual parliamentary rules are a matter of concern,' said Blanchet in French during a press conference.
Article content
'I would respectfully suggest that Mr. Carney's entourage inform him that one is not supposed to work in such a cavalier manner when facing a Parliament fresh from the oven,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
22 minutes ago
- CBC
N.B. legal aid commission to review eligibility criteria in wake of auditor general report
The New Brunswick legal aid commission says it is proud of the service it provides, despite the auditor general's recent finding that some people might not be getting the help they need under eight-year-old eligibility criteria. In the last fiscal year, the Legal Aid Services Commission provided services in family and criminal law to more than 31,000 clients — 4,000 more than in the previous year, said Chantal Landry, the commission executive director. But Landry doesn't disagree with concerns raised by Auditor General Paul Martin about eligibility requirements. "We do recognize that, given the economic realities and the inflation observed in the last few years, it would be appropriate for a review of the financial eligibility grids, and we take no exception to the recommendation made by Mr. Martin on this." Martin reviewed the efficiency and effectiveness of the commission in providing legal aid across the province between April 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2024. His report was released earlier this week. Martin commended the commission for a number of things, including the timely processing of applications and the consistent application of financial eligibility criteria. But he found the "lack of timely review of the eligibility grid may contribute to the risk that [the commission] may not be fulfilling its mandate to serve low-income individuals as intended." Landry said an "appropriate analysis" is to be done, but if it determines an increased need for legal aid, the commission needs to be "properly resourced" to meet it. Before the current eligibility grid for legal aid was adopted, eligibility was decided based on a means test that looked at the amount of disposable income an applicant had left at the end of each month. "It was a very convoluted and very, honestly, inequitable system, because for clients who were financially responsible, they typically didn't qualify," Landry said. The income grid used now is based on gross household income. For example, according to the grid posted in 2017, a single-person household making more than $2,600 per month is not eligible for legal aid. Landry said the reason the criteria haven't been reviewed in eight years is that there were other priorities and an increase in clients coming through the door. In Martin's report, he also found no formalized financial appeals process, and people who did appeal were not treated consistently. The audit found that of the 140 appeals, 14 applicants were approved with an income of more than 10 per cent above the threshold, while 15 were denied despite their income being within 10 per cent of the threshold. Landry said that in recent years, the commission looked at accepting people who were just above the eligibility cut-off and appealed being denied aid. "We developed kind of a discretionary standard of accepting a client if their income was within 10 per cent over the top of the grid," said Landry. "So to address the recommendation of Mr. Martin, we've already put in place some directives to staff, and we will further develop processes to provide more transparency for clients who will want to appeal under this guideline." Landry said she understands why there needs to be more process in that particular system, and hopes it will be achieved in the near future. Landry said she was pleased with the positive comments that came out of the auditor general's report, but said there's always room for improvement in any program.
Toronto Star
28 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Our Defence Minister on threats, bigger budgets, and Canada's new relationship with the U.S.
Canada's Minister of National Defence David McGuinty joins It's Political to discuss increases to the country's defense budget and what the relationship looks like with the U.S. going forward. The conversation follows Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement this week that Canada will greatly increase military spending to 2 per cent of GDP just as NATO allies get together later this month to discuss raising the bar to 5 per cent. We also speak to industry experts about just how integrated the Canadian and American militaries are, and what it would mean to become less reliant on the U.S.
CTV News
30 minutes ago
- CTV News
N.S. announces additional funding for first responders in need of more equipment
Emergency Management Minister Kim Masland is pictured with Leonard Ross, left, and Kevin Curley of the Northeast Margaree Fire Department in front of the department's off-road rescue vehicle. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia) The province of Nova Scotia has announced $2.8 million in additional funding to help first responders buy equipment. The Emergency Services Provider Fund has been expanded to allow organizations to apply for up to $30,000, an increase from $20,000 last year. The fund will also now cover up to 90 per cent of costs, up from 75 per cent. Fire departments, ground search and rescue teams and hazardous materials units can apply under the fund. Examples of eligible purchases include: personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus equipment for firefighting, communication, rescue, water supply and suppression, hazardous materials emergency power for buildings Applications open Sunday and close July 30. 'First responders play such a crucial role in keeping Nova Scotians safe,' said Minister of Emergency Management Kim Masland in a provincial news release. 'This year, we're increasing the amount of the fund to $4 million to better equip and support our first responders.' The province has also added a new regional component for projects and equipment that address 'the collective needs of multiple emergency response organizations in an area.' The new component is said to help with coordinated, region-wide preparedness, response and recovery efforts. Up to $200,000 will be available under the regional category, with applications opening Sept. 1 and closing Oct. 14. Examples of eligible purchases through the regional fund include: major equipment and specialized vehicles and trailers regional training facilities shared equipment pool (self-contained breathing apparatus, drones, rope or swift water kits, remote rescue kits) regional mobile command unit multi-purpose utility terrain vehicles, all-terrain vehicles for wildland and search and rescue missions regional hazard and vulnerability analysis, regional risk reduction strategies and public education projects regional exercise and training programs regional FireSmart program enhancements mental health resiliency programs Another change is organizations can now apply for funding once every two years rather than every three. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
