Hill Update: December 2011

Parliament rose on Thursday, December 16th and will resume Monday, January 30th 2012. The Hill office was tremendously busy this Fall as the Government tried to pass as much legislation as possible to meets its election promises. With the exception of Elizabeth being in Durban South Africa for the COP17 climate change negotiations, she remained firmly planted in her seat in the House to address as many issues as possible.

In light of COP17 Climate Change Negotiations in Durban, Elizabeth made numerous attempts to have a debate in the House about the government’s climate change strategy (or lack thereof). Despite her best efforts no debate took place and on Monday December 12th, not 24 hours after COP17 concluded, Minister of the Environment Peter Kent announced that the Government was giving notice of Canada’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol. Canada’s withdrawal does not legally take effect for a year so there is still time to reverse this decision and insist on real action on climate change. A climate change campaign will be launched by the Green Party of Canada.

Leading up to COP17, the Parliamentary Climate Change Caucus lined up numerous events to educate MPs and Senators on climate change with the goal of propelling them into action. Two events were hosted by Elizabeth May and drew numerous MPs/Senators, civil society representatives and some of Canada’s leading climate change scientists. On November 17th, a parliamentary reception was held in East Block to honour Dr. Gordon McBean, Director of Policy for the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, for his election as President of the International Council for Science. On November 30th, Elizabeth hosted a breakfast for MPs in the Parliamentary dining room with author Bill Marsden to discuss his new book Fools Rule: Inside the Failed Politics of Climate Change.

Since the last Hill update in November, Elizabeth has risen over 50 times in the House. With many very important issues in debate, Elizabeth has intervened to raise the discourse of the debate and persuade the government. Elizabeth has engaged in debate on the following legislation: an Act to reorganize the Canadian Wheat Board (C-18), an Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms (C-19), Human Smuggling Act (C-4), an Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and the Canada Elections Act (C-20), Appointment of Integrity Commissioner, an Act to Amend the Copyright Act (C-11), Citizen’s Arrest and Self-Defence Act (C-26), Senate Reform Act (C-7), First Nations Drinking Water (opposition supply day motion), Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act (C-24), an Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (accountability with respect to political loans)(C-21), and Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Report findings (opposition day motion).

The Omnibus Crime Bill (C-10) made it through House of Commons committee and reached Report Stage in the House. In an effort to improve the bill and slow its inevitable passage in the House, Elizabeth tabled a total of 52 amendments. Greens were very present in the House as the speaker listed off all amendments!

Elizabeth seconded (along with Jim Karygiannis MP) an important private members bill initiated by MP Alex Atamanenko, Bill M-248 Department of Peace, to create a federal Department of Peace. Elizabeth also supported and spoke to other private members bills in the House: Bill C-267, an Act Respecting the Preservation of Canada’s Water Resources and Bill C-278, an Act to Amend the Employment Insurance Act (improvement of the employment insurance system).

Elizabeth also tabled a number of petitions in the House to:

• Ban the possession, trade, distribution or offer for sale of shark fins in Canada;
• Eliminate the use of bottled water in federal government institutions (when potable water is available); and
• Ensure government lives up to its promise of ensuring Canada’s long-term prosperity, recognizing the central role that a stable climate must inevitably play in achieving this goal and, to this end, adopt a National Climate Strategy that describes, in a transparent manner, the specific measures to be taken in order that the government adhere to the CO2 targets adopted by the 40th Parliament of Canada for a 25% reduction below 1990 levels by 2020, and followed by an 80% C02 reduction below 1990 levels by 2050.

We recently launched Elizabeth May’s MP website (work in progress with a formal launch in January). Check it out the “portal on democracy” to stay fully tuned in on the Hill and watch all of Elizabeth’s statements and questions in the House! www.elizabethmaymp.ca