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National Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- National Observer
Carney shows his hand on infrastructure and trade bill
Ever since June 6, when Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that he expects Bill C-5 to become law before summer break, one question has loomed over Parliament: How? It normally takes months for a bill to become law. Proposed legislation (which is what a bill is) must go through several readings and committees run by MPs and senators alike, who all call witnesses to weigh in on the pros and cons, which trigger amendments, which then require further deliberation, all before a final vote is cast. If that sounds slow, that's because it is — and it usually takes even longer in a minority government, where Opposition MPs make up a big portion of the committees and so, have ample opportunity to bog the process down. So how did Carney expect to whiz his signature policy through such a quagmire in a mere two or three weeks? But on Thursday, June 12 – one head-scratching week after Carney unveiled the bill – he dropped his cards: a special parliamentary order that would, if Parliament votes for it, condense the entire process into five days. The order's formal name is ' An Act to enact the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act and the Building Canada Act.' Or as NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice calls it, a super-motion. '[It] will, if passed, speed up the debate and study of that bill in an incredible and scandalous way,' Boulerice said in a phone interview soon after the Act to Enact the Act was introduced. Parliament will vote on this super-motion on Friday. It requires a simple majority to pass. If that happens, a parliamentary committee will be formed next week and given just two days to scrutinize Bill C-5, plus make whatever amendments they can squeeze in. The bill will go through the final two readings and hit the floor next Friday, June 20, for a final vote. On that day, according to the terms of the super-motion, '[t]he House shall not adjourn until the proceedings on the bill have been completed.' Meaning, in other words, MPs are stuck in their seats until the bill either becomes law or dies. The procedural mystery behind the prime minister's plan to rush his treasured legislation has been unveiled. Now it's Parliament's play. All of that hinges on the super-motion. If that passes on June 13, Carney will almost certainly get his legislation by next weekend. 'It's really against the rights of parliamentarians,' Boulerice said. 'It's really anti-democratic. It's all the horrible things that a government can do to shut down debate and pass a really controversial project through the throats of the MPs and the general public and First Nations and environmental groups.' Two Acts in one Bill C-5 is really two bills in one, both named in the unwieldy title. The first part is about breaking down interprovincial barriers to trade and labour mobility, and is, in general, less controversial than the bill's second part: the 'Building Canada Act,' which would give cabinet the power to deem certain megaprojects (from pipelines and electricity grids to ports and high-speed rail) in the 'national interest,' which would then put them on a two-year fast track to federal approval. It's the second part that Boulerice, along with many environmental advocacy groups and Indigenous leaders, have deep misgivings about. ''National interest' is so vague that they can put whatever they want [on that list], and after that, guarantee the two years maximum. … Once it's on the list, it cannot be removed. It cannot be blocked or stopped by anybody – provinces, First Nations, citizens, cities. I think it's the dream of Stephen Harper coming true.' Indeed, Conservatives do appear to like the bill – the party's members, not known for their shyness about legislation they dislike, didn't once mention it or the super-motion to accelerate its passage, in Thursday's Question Period. What's less clear is whether they want to hand Carney the political gift of having his signature policy turned into law in such short order against such odds. The Conservative Party did not immediately respond to an inquiry about their plans. It's far from a done deal yet, however. Boulerice is in talks with the Bloc Quebecois, both of whom are busy scouring the 'really big book' of parliamentary procedure for tools that might at least put the brakes on the super-motion. 'We will try some obstruction procedures,' he said. In addition to motions that could slow the day down, Boulerice said they might try splitting Bill C-5 into two parts, allowing the first to rush through, while reserving the second part on 'national interest' projects for proper scrutiny.' In a best-case scenario for Boulerice, the NDP and Bloc will be able to stall voting on the super-motion until Monday. In that case, 'we'll gain some time to raise awareness' with the public, in the hopes of generating enough bad press that the bill becomes too toxic for Parliament to support. But the government is already working on getting its own message out. In a separate briefing about wildfires, several cabinet ministers were asked by reporters to explain the rush embodied by this super-motion. 'We're in a very difficult situation right now,' said Tim Hodgson, minister of energy and natural resources. 'We have a trade war that is affecting sector after sector after sector. Canadian jobs are at risk, Canadian livelihoods are at risk, and quite frankly, the prosperity of the country is at risk … to deal with this, we need to do things that we have not done in a long time, in time frames we have not done since the end of World War II. What we are doing is allowing for debate – I spent four hours last night in a committee of the whole. There is going to be the same sort of process in the Senate. It is important that we start moving, or we will find ourselves in an increasingly difficult situation.' Asked if the Liberals have spoken with Conservatives for a sense of whether they'll support this push, Hodgson said, 'I don't think it's appropriate to talk about the private conversations that are going on.' Mandy Gull-Masty, the minister of Indigenous services and a former Grand Chief of the Cree Nation government in Quebec, was also at that press conference. Asked if the government had addressed the question of First Nation consultation and support for this legislation, Gull-Masty said that in her view, Bill C-5 is 'not just critical for the Canadian economy, it's also critical for Indigenous people.' She said the prime minister has made himself personally available to Indigenous leaders across the country, and felt that Section 35, which enshrines Indigenous rights in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, along with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, are both embedded in the process. 'I think this is something that is unique to the One Canada Economy Bill, is that we're not just inviting Indigenous partnership to the table, we're actually asking them, 'What is your process of consultation, and how can we work with you in collaboration to carry out those steps?'' For now, it won't be Indigenous groups, or environmental advocates, or anyone but the MPs inside the House of Commons who decide whether Gull Masty's faith in her new party's good faith is warranted. And of those parliamentarians, it is now the Conservatives who hold the future of Carney's prized legislation in their hands. They could choose to gift it to him all at once, delay it until after summer, or withhold it altogether.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Animal Protection Party of Canada Continues to Press the Federal Government on Import of Endangered Monkeys from Cambodia
TORONTO, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Animal Protection Party of Canada continues to question why the federal government allows ongoing violations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) during the importation of monkeys from Cambodia for use in research laboratories. Earlier this year, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat recommended suspending worldwide trade in Cambodian-origin macaques after Cambodian officials and nationals were found to have falsified export paperwork and laundered tens of thousands of wild-caught monkeys into the laboratory supply chain, claiming that they were captive-bred. As a result, the U.S. stopped accepting all monkey imports from Cambodia. Canada, however, increased acceptance of the monkeys, making it the world's largest importer of Cambodian-origin macaques, importing nearly 10,000 of the endangered monkeys since 2023. The monkeys being imported are long-tailed macaques, a species listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They are endangered largely because of habitat loss and exploitation by the research industry. Canada is a signatory to CITES, which obligates the country to prevent illegal wildlife trade. While the U.S. has taken decisive action to protect these endangered monkeys, Canada has not. 'Why do Canadian authorities continue to pass the buck?' asked Liz White, Leader, Animal Protection Party of Canada. 'It's shameful that Canada is not exercising the precautionary principal to protect an endangered species. Thankfully some Members of Parliament are questioning what's happening. We are grateful to MP Boulerice for sponsoring an e-petition.' Petition e-6537, which calls upon the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to order an immediate suspension of all endangered monkey imports from Cambodia, is open for signatures until September 26, 2025. 'This is a brutal practice that must stop,' added MP Alexandre Boulerice, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie. 'The NDP urges the Liberal government to change the rules so we can protect this animal and its rights. We must protect this endangered species.' Contact: Liz White, Leader Animal Protection Party of Canada liz@ 416-462-9541
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Animal Protection Party of Canada Continues to Press the Federal Government on Import of Endangered Monkeys from Cambodia
TORONTO, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Animal Protection Party of Canada continues to question why the federal government allows ongoing violations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) during the importation of monkeys from Cambodia for use in research laboratories. Earlier this year, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat recommended suspending worldwide trade in Cambodian-origin macaques after Cambodian officials and nationals were found to have falsified export paperwork and laundered tens of thousands of wild-caught monkeys into the laboratory supply chain, claiming that they were captive-bred. As a result, the U.S. stopped accepting all monkey imports from Cambodia. Canada, however, increased acceptance of the monkeys, making it the world's largest importer of Cambodian-origin macaques, importing nearly 10,000 of the endangered monkeys since 2023. The monkeys being imported are long-tailed macaques, a species listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They are endangered largely because of habitat loss and exploitation by the research industry. Canada is a signatory to CITES, which obligates the country to prevent illegal wildlife trade. While the U.S. has taken decisive action to protect these endangered monkeys, Canada has not. 'Why do Canadian authorities continue to pass the buck?' asked Liz White, Leader, Animal Protection Party of Canada. 'It's shameful that Canada is not exercising the precautionary principal to protect an endangered species. Thankfully some Members of Parliament are questioning what's happening. We are grateful to MP Boulerice for sponsoring an e-petition.' Petition e-6537, which calls upon the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to order an immediate suspension of all endangered monkey imports from Cambodia, is open for signatures until September 26, 2025. 'This is a brutal practice that must stop,' added MP Alexandre Boulerice, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie. 'The NDP urges the Liberal government to change the rules so we can protect this animal and its rights. We must protect this endangered species." Contact:Liz White, LeaderAnimal Protection Party of Canadaliz@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Montreal Gazette
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
NDP's last man standing in Quebec is poised to win again
Canadian Politics Even as his party appeared to be floundering nationwide, Alexandre Boulerice looked sure to hold on to his title as the last NDP MP standing in Quebec Monday night. With the majority of votes counted, Boulerice had a comfortable lead over his Liberal counterpart. With a win, Boulerice would become the first Quebec NDP MP to win five times in the province (former party leader Thomas Mulcair managed four wins). Amid the Liberal red wave, it was a vote of confidence by the citizens of his riding of Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, where Boulerice is omnipresent and well liked, that he said 'warms my heart.' For residents of his riding like DJ Morales, a freelance textile designer, it was the NDP's fight for things like free dental care for the uninsured that cemented her vote. 'For me, it was the first dental checkup I'd had in years,' she said. 'My rent has been increased every year for the last several years. Groceries are going up. 'The NDP is the last party that really fights for regular working persons.' In an ideal world, Boulerice and his party would have hoped for a Liberal minority government with the NDP holding the balance of power, as was the case for most of the last three years, Boulerice said Monday night at party election night headquarters at Bar Clébard on St-Denis St. 'We did it for three years and we managed to get results for Quebecers, like the anti-scab law, more sick days and, of course, the dental-care program that paid for the dentist for 530,000 Quebecers.' In comparison, the Bloc Québécois wasn't able to accomplish much, Boulerice said. Even if the Liberals form a majority, Boulerice said the NDP represents an important left-wing voice that is both unique and necessary for Canada. 'We will be watching over Mr. Carney to say 'Be careful, don't take away service to the public, for seniors, for the unemployed, for those awaiting visas or immigration permits.' A rise in right wing parties globally has not been favourable to progressive or left-wing factions like his own the world over, Boulerice said. Add to that the tariff war of U.S. President Donald Trump, and it has been a difficult election for smaller parties like the NDP, Boulerice said. Party Leader Jagmeet Singh had been projected to lose his Burnaby Central seat in British Columbia to the Liberals, and with it, the leadership of the NDP. Since Singh took power in 2017, the party has lost 20 seats and hundreds of thousands of voters. Still, the party managed to promote their causes by signing a supply and confidence agreement that kept the minority Liberals in power and allowed the NDP to push through their universal dental-care program and pharmacare legislation, and enact anti-scab laws to protect unionized workers. In what became a two-party race caused by the threats emanating from south of the border, the NDP's goal shifted from trying to find a place once again as a small but consequential player in another minority government to just trying to retain at least 12 of their 24 seats in order to hold on to official party status. On the day of the election, polls were predicting they would win only nine. The NDP had to scale down from running a national campaign to 'trying to save the furniture,' as Philippe Fournier, founder of the 338Canada poll aggregator, put it. In Montreal, that meant focusing on just five ridings: Boulerice's Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, Hochelaga—Rosemont-Est, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, Outremont and LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, where popular city councillor Craig Sauvé was running again after narrowly losing a byelection in a three-way race in September. At publication time, it appeared only Boulerice's seat was sure. 'I'm not sure the Carney honeymoon will last that long,' Sauvé said Monday. 'I think the NDP is the party that's going to start bringing those economic fundamentals to the floor and saying, 'Hey, your private market solutions, are they going to work really?'' In the rest of Quebec, the party had been holding out hope for Ruth Ellen Brosseau, who became famous for winning in the 2011 Orange Wave despite not speaking French and partying in Las Vegas during the campaign, and then turning into a respected MP in her rural Berthier-Maskinongé riding. Early in the counting, she was far behind the Bloc and Liberal candidates. Political historians warned that the NDP could suffer their worst loss in its 64-year-history in this election. Université du Québec à Montréal professor André Lamoureux said the party was suffering because it had lost sight of its roots as a universalist social democratic party created to fight for workers and bolster social programs meant to protect lower-income workers and marginalized members of society. During the campaign, Boulerice discounted the theory that the NDP had lost track of its origins, citing their gains over the last three years 'as a good example of how we are helping the most disadvantaged, and the middle class, to get access to care.' After an election during which the key issues of housing and health care were largely shunted to the side in the face of economic peril, the party of the left is hoping calmer times return to allow it a chance to regroup and reconnect with its base. This story was originally published April 28, 2025 at 10:54 PM.
