Latest news with #BlocQuébécois
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Major projects bill expected to pass before MPs leave for the summer
OTTAWA — If you blink, you might miss it. Prime Minister Mark Carney's controversial major projects bill was set to finish its dash through the House of Commons today — the final day of the sitting before summer — with support from the Conservatives and not-so-quiet grumblings from the other opposition parties. 'Usually, on the last day of sitting before the summer, everyone is smiling, we're in a good mood, we pat ourselves on the backs. But today, I would say that's not really the case,' said Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval during a speech on Friday. The final vote on Bill C-5 in the House is set to happen shortly after 5 p.m. before making its way to the Senate for a final adoption expected within a week, on Friday, June 27. The legislation has two parts. The first, which has more support across party lines, aims to eliminate internal trade and labour mobility barriers in Canada. The second part, which would give cabinet sweeping powers to approve natural resource and infrastructure projects deemed in the national interest, has raised considerably more concerns. Indigenous communities, environmental groups, opposition parties and even some Liberal MPs have said they are uncomfortable with the lack of consultation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis people prior to tabling the bill, but also the extent of the powers that would give the government of the day the power to ignore other federal laws for five years. 'Pretending that this unprecedented power grab was ever discussed in the election is a sham, and we can add an 'e' to that. It's a shame,' said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. C-5 was rushed through committee earlier this week. Despite that, opposition parties managed to pass amendments which include exempting a number of laws — such as the Indian Act and the Conflict of Interest Act — from being ignored when considering major projects and publishing a list of national interest projects with timelines and costs. 'These amendments matter,' said Shannon Stubbs, energy and natural resource critic for the Conservatives when describing the changes in the House. 'They bring transparency, accountability, more certainty, more clarity and integrity to a bill that originally had none.' Stubbs said despite those changes, 'major concerns' remain. She cited the need to prevent ministers from removing projects from the national interest list at any time but also add in the bill clear timelines to approve projects to increase certainty for investors. On Friday, opposition parties claimed a small victory. NDP MP Jenny Kwan, with the help of the Bloc's Marilène Gill, argued the Speaker of the House should divide C-5 into two distinct parts so that MPs could vote on the portions on internal trade and major projects separately at third reading. Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia granted their request. 'While they are ultimately designed to strengthen the Canadian economy, they deal with different issues that could very well stand independently from one another,' he explained. The passage of C-5 concludes in a dramatic way a packed four-week spring sitting that saw Carney's government table significant omnibus bills, very fast, but adopt very few. The government tabled C-2, the Strong Borders Act, which seeks to secure the Canada-U.S. border, fight organized crime and fentanyl and boost the fight against financial crimes. It is facing criticism for sweeping new powers that would allow officials to obtain information without a warrant and for restricting the asylum claim process, among others. It also tabled C-4, the Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act, which includes some of the government's campaign promises on affordability like a middle-class tax cut and removal of the GST on new homes for first-time homebuyers. However, the bill has been criticized as it also seeks to exempt federal political parties from modern privacy laws. Unlike the major projects bill, C-2 and C-4 were not fast-tracked, meaning that they will continue to make their way through the legislative process during the fall sitting. Interestingly, the first legislation to pass all stages in this new Parliament was not a government bill. Last week, MPs unanimously approved C-202, a Bloc bill to protect the supply management system which regulates the price and production of dairy, poultry and eggs, from future trade deals. That same bill was stalled in the Senate in the last legislature and ended up dying on the order paper when the election was called. This time, the Senate approved C-202 on division, and it is now awaiting royal assent. National Post calevesque@ Doug Ford apologizes to Ontario First Nations for his 'passionate' comments 'We have to get that balance right': Liberal MPs express worries about major projects bill Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Major projects bill expected to pass before MPs leave for the summer
OTTAWA — If you blink, you might miss it. Prime Minister Mark Carney's controversial major projects bill was set to finish its dash through the House of Commons today — the final day of the sitting before summer — with support from the Conservatives and not-so-quiet grumblings from the other opposition parties. 'Usually, on the last day of sitting before the summer, everyone is smiling, we're in a good mood, we pat ourselves on the backs. But today, I would say that's not really the case,' said Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval during a speech on Friday. The final vote on Bill C-5 in the House is set to happen shortly after 5 p.m. before making its way to the Senate for a final adoption expected within a week, on Friday, June 27. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The legislation has two parts. The first, which has more support across party lines, aims to eliminate internal trade and labour mobility barriers in Canada. The second part, which would give cabinet sweeping powers to approve natural resource and infrastructure projects deemed in the national interest, has raised considerably more concerns. Indigenous communities, environmental groups, opposition parties and even some Liberal MPs have said they are uncomfortable with the lack of consultation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis people prior to tabling the bill, but also the extent of the powers that would give the government of the day the power to ignore other federal laws for five years. 'Pretending that this unprecedented power grab was ever discussed in the election is a sham, and we can add an 'e' to that. It's a shame,' said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. C-5 was rushed through committee earlier this week. Despite that, opposition parties managed to pass amendments which include exempting a number of laws — such as the Indian Act and the Conflict of Interest Act — from being ignored when considering major projects and publishing a list of national interest projects with timelines and costs. 'These amendments matter,' said Shannon Stubbs, energy and natural resource critic for the Conservatives when describing the changes in the House. 'They bring transparency, accountability, more certainty, more clarity and integrity to a bill that originally had none.' Stubbs said despite those changes, 'major concerns' remain. She cited the need to prevent ministers from removing projects from the national interest list at any time but also add in the bill clear timelines to approve projects to increase certainty for investors. On Friday, opposition parties claimed a small victory. NDP MP Jenny Kwan, with the help of the Bloc's Marilène Gill, argued the Speaker of the House should divide C-5 into two distinct parts so that MPs could vote on the portions on internal trade and major projects separately at third reading. Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia granted their request. 'While they are ultimately designed to strengthen the Canadian economy, they deal with different issues that could very well stand independently from one another,' he explained. The passage of C-5 concludes in a dramatic way a packed four-week spring sitting that saw Carney's government table significant omnibus bills, very fast, but adopt very few. The government tabled C-2, the Strong Borders Act , which seeks to secure the Canada-U.S. border, fight organized crime and fentanyl and boost the fight against financial crimes. It is facing criticism for sweeping new powers that would allow officials to obtain information without a warrant and for restricting the asylum claim process, among others. It also tabled C-4, the Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act, which includes some of the government's campaign promises on affordability like a middle-class tax cut and removal of the GST on new homes for first-time homebuyers. However, the bill has been criticized as it also seeks to exempt federal political parties from modern privacy laws. Unlike the major projects bill, C-2 and C-4 were not fast-tracked, meaning that they will continue to make their way through the legislative process during the fall sitting. Interestingly, the first legislation to pass all stages in this new Parliament was not a government bill. Last week, MPs unanimously approved C-202, a Bloc bill to protect the supply management system which regulates the price and production of dairy, poultry and eggs, from future trade deals. That same bill was stalled in the Senate in the last legislature and ended up dying on the order paper when the election was called. This time, the Senate approved C-202 on division, and it is now awaiting royal assent. National Post calevesque@ Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Calgary Herald
2 hours ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Major projects bill expected to pass before MPs leave for the summer
OTTAWA — If you blink, you might miss it. Article content Prime Minister Mark Carney's controversial major projects bill was set to finish its dash through the House of Commons today — the final day of the sitting before summer — with support from the Conservatives and not-so-quiet grumblings from the other opposition parties. Article content Article content 'Usually, on the last day of sitting before the summer, everyone is smiling, we're in a good mood, we pat ourselves on the backs. But today, I would say that's not really the case,' said Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval during a speech on Friday. Article content Article content The final vote on Bill C-5 in the House is set to happen shortly after 5 p.m. before making its way to the Senate for a final adoption expected within a week, on Friday, June 27. Article content Article content The legislation has two parts. The first, which has more support across party lines, aims to eliminate internal trade and labour mobility barriers in Canada. The second part, which would give cabinet sweeping powers to approve natural resource and infrastructure projects deemed in the national interest, has raised considerably more concerns. Article content Indigenous communities, environmental groups, opposition parties and even some Liberal MPs have said they are uncomfortable with the lack of consultation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis people prior to tabling the bill, but also the extent of the powers that would give the government of the day the power to ignore other federal laws for five years. Article content Article content 'Pretending that this unprecedented power grab was ever discussed in the election is a sham, and we can add an 'e' to that. It's a shame,' said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. Article content C-5 was rushed through committee earlier this week. Despite that, opposition parties managed to pass amendments which include exempting a number of laws — such as the Indian Act and the Conflict of Interest Act — from being ignored when considering major projects and publishing a list of national interest projects with timelines and costs. Article content 'These amendments matter,' said Shannon Stubbs, energy and natural resource critic for the Conservatives when describing the changes in the House. 'They bring transparency, accountability, more certainty, more clarity and integrity to a bill that originally had none.'
National Post
2 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
Major projects bill expected to pass before MPs leave for the summer
OTTAWA — If you blink, you might miss it. Article content Prime Minister Mark Carney's controversial major projects bill was set to finish its dash through the House of Commons today — the final day of the sitting before summer — with support from the Conservatives and not-so-quiet grumblings from the other opposition parties. Article content Article content 'Usually, on the last day of sitting before the summer, everyone is smiling, we're in a good mood, we pat ourselves on the backs. But today, I would say that's not really the case,' said Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval during a speech on Friday. Article content Article content The final vote on Bill C-5 in the House is set to happen shortly after 5 p.m. before making its way to the Senate for a final adoption expected within a week, on Friday, June 27. Article content Article content The legislation has two parts. The first, which has more support across party lines, aims to eliminate internal trade and labour mobility barriers in Canada. The second part, which would give cabinet sweeping powers to approve natural resource and infrastructure projects deemed in the national interest, has raised considerably more concerns. Article content Indigenous communities, environmental groups, opposition parties and even some Liberal MPs have said they are uncomfortable with the lack of consultation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis people prior to tabling the bill, but also the extent of the powers that would give the government of the day the power to ignore other federal laws for five years. Article content 'Pretending that this unprecedented power grab was ever discussed in the election is a sham, and we can add an 'e' to that. It's a shame,' said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. Article content C-5 was rushed through committee earlier this week. Despite that, opposition parties managed to pass amendments which include exempting a number of laws — such as the Indian Act and the Conflict of Interest Act — from being ignored when considering major projects and publishing a list of national interest projects with timelines and costs. Article content 'These amendments matter,' said Shannon Stubbs, energy and natural resource critic for the Conservatives when describing the changes in the House. 'They bring transparency, accountability, more certainty, more clarity and integrity to a bill that originally had none.' Article content Stubbs said despite those changes, 'major concerns' remain. She cited the need to prevent ministers from removing projects from the national interest list at any time but also add in the bill clear timelines to approve projects to increase certainty for investors. Article content On Friday, opposition parties claimed a small victory. NDP MP Jenny Kwan, with the help of the Bloc's Marilène Gill, argued the Speaker of the House should divide C-5 into two distinct parts so that MPs could vote on the portions on internal trade and major projects separately at third reading. Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia granted their request.
National Observer
13 hours ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Opposition parties curtail some special powers in Carney's Bill C-5
A controversial bill that would give the federal government the ability to override laws and regulations and fast-track projects is one step closer to becoming law. The federal Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities passed 23 amendments to Bill C-5 and wrapped up after midnight following a marathon Wednesday session. The Carney government used a special order to limit debate and study to try to get the bill through Parliament before MPs leave for summer recess this Friday. Along with removing federal barriers to internal trade, Bill C-5 would allow the federal cabinet to conditionally approve projects it deems 'in the national interest' before regulatory processes take place and enable cabinet to exempt those projects from many laws and regulations. If passed in its original form, the bill would also empower cabinet to override any laws passed by Parliament, like the Criminal Code or Species at Risk Act, for example. Some of that power has been curtailed after opposition MPs carved out some exclusions and checks on the powers it would afford the federal government, but Bloc Québécois MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval is not satisfied. 'The bill is less problematic than it was, but it's still not a good bill for sure,' Barsalou-Duval said in an interview early Thursday morning with Canada's National Observer. 'It's not a good deal for the environment and Canada.' The Bloc and Conservatives amended the bill to curtail cabinet's power, naming 16 laws the federal government could not override, including the Criminal Code, Indian Act, Lobbying Act, Conflict of Interest Act, Trade Unions Act and Hazardous Products Act, and others. A controversial bill that would give the federal government the ability to override laws and regulations and fast-track projects is one step closer to becoming law. A federal committee passed 23 amendments in a marathon session. The NDP and Green Party also oppose Bill C-5, but only the Bloc Québécois gets a vote at committee meetings. That didn't stop Green Party Leader Elizabeth May from attending virtually to speak to her amendments. No NDP MP was present for the clause-by-clause debate and votes. Another amendment passed by the Bloc Québécois and Conservatives prevents the government from designating projects for fast-tracking when Parliament is prorogued or dissolved. Environmental lawyers, including West Coast Environmental Law's Anna Johnston, criticized the bill for lacking transparency. Opposition MPs made some gains on this with a series of amendments that will require more information about listed projects to be made public in a timely manner. Many of these amendments, particularly those that increase transparency, are a step in the right direction and could 'go a long way towards improving government accountability to voters,' Johnston told Canada's National Observer in an emailed statement. However, cabinet would still get sweeping powers to declare when and for whom laws apply, which is troubling, she said. Additionally, now, if a project has not been substantially started within five years of being listed, the document expires, according to a Bloc amendment. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said no project will be imposed on a province, but this is not spelled out in the bill and the Bloc Québécois are not willing to take Carney at his word. The party tried — and failed — many times to change the bill's language to explicitly require Quebec's consent for any project within its jurisdiction. 'The thing that was the most important for us is not in the bill,' Barsalou-Duval said after the meeting concluded. The Liberal committee members opposed these changes and the Conservatives abstained. Liberal MP Will Greaves told Canada's National Observer the amendment is unnecessary because provincial jurisdiction is in the Constitution. 'Any law that we pass is subject to the Constitution, and the provinces' jurisdictions are the starting point; they don't need to be written into the bill expressly.' The Bloc did manage to pass an amendment that would require the federal government to give 30 days' notice before a project is listed in the national interest, consult with the province where it will be carried out and 'obtain its written consent if the project falls within areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction.' The eight-hour committee meeting on Wednesday evening was marked by friendly exchanges, jokes and laughter between Liberal, Bloc Québécois and Conservative MPs, despite the BQ's vehement opposition to the proposed legislation. The rare instances of unanimity resulted in smatterings of applause and cheers, with Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs exclaiming: 'I'm so used to fighting and losing!' But there were tense exchanges as well, particularly between BQ MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who testified for two hours alongside Transport and Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and newly elected Liberal MP and minister of Crown–Indigenous relations, Rebecca Alty. Barsalou-Duval compared the sweeping powers in Bill C-5 to a 'disguised' version of the Emergencies Act, and suggested the federal government is taking advantage of the trade war with US President Donald Trump to grant itself extreme powers. LeBlanc balked at the comparison to the Emergencies Act, and said the current situation is urgent from an economic standpoint. Through much interruption and back-and-forth, Barsalou-Duval fired back: 'We don't know that you will act in our best interest.' The CPC and BQ voted in favour of an NDP amendment to add language about good-paying, unionized jobs to the preamble.
