Opioid bill, CETA, budget at top of House agenda as MPs return

The ongoing opioid crisis in Canada and job losses have put two bills—Bill C-37, to address safe injection sites and Bill C-30 implementing CETA—as well as the upcoming budget as top priorities when the House returns Monday after a six-week break from Ottawa. “Lots of people wonder if Parliament cares,” NDP House leader Murray Rankin (Victoria, B.C.) told The Hill Times last week, speaking about the ongoing opioid overdose crisis that has proliferated on the West Coast, with 914 people dying from fentanyl overdoses in British Columbia last year. He said he had five constituents die in one day in his Victoria, B.C., riding, and the crisis is now spreading across Canada. Bill C-37, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, is expected to come up for debate this week and spur heated debate, given the polarized views of the opposition parties. It's a priority bill for the governing Liberals, the Conservatives say they want to see more community consultation put into the bill, while the NDP say it should be enacted as soon as possible. “It’s a moral imperative that takes precedence over the salary increases that the Liberal ministers are seeking in Bill C-24, . It takes priority over the Liberals' efforts to undercut our pension regime in Bill C-27 . These are people dying on our streets,” Mr. Rankin told The Hill Times. Bill C-24 boosts the salaries for what used to be considered junior minister positions and opens the possibility to add more ministers, and Bill C-27 gives federal employers the ability to back out of defined pension benefit plans. The legislation, which was introduced by Health Minister Jane Philpott (Markham Stouffville, Ont.) at the end of the 2016 sitting, is part of Health Canada’s overall Opioid Action Plan. Bill C-37 seeks to remove regulations around safe injection sites across the country. It amends the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Customs Act, and the Proceeds of Crime and Terrorist Financing Act, to prohibit the import of unregistered pill presses, remove the exception currently placed on border officers to only open mail weighing more than 30 grams, and make it a crime to possess or transport anything used in the production of controlled substances. Government House Leader Bardish Chagger (Waterloo, Ont.), in an email to The Hill Times, confirmed Bill C-37 is among the bills that are a priority for the government to see passed, recognizing the opioid crisis has taken a toll on several communities. She was not specific on timelines, but the bill has yet to be debated at second reading. The NDP says fentanyl is a public health crisis that needs to be addressed immediately. Mr. Rankin said in his coming meetings with his House leader colleagues he’ll make it clear the NDP wants to see it through committee quickly, into the Senate quickly, and enacted quickly. Mr. Rankin said these overdose deaths are “way worse than SARS” and other health crises Canada has seen. He said the bill isn’t perfect, but it’s a start and better than what the Conservatives did with Bill C-2, the Respect for Communities Act, in the last Parliament. “The number of people of people who have died … it speaks for itself. And people in my part of the world want to know that the federal government and the Parliament of Canada are alive to this crisis,” said Mr. Rankin. The Conservatives will have lots to say about Bill C-37, because it repeals measures around the injection-site application process that the last Harper government introduced under Bill C-2, said Conservative House leader Candice Bergen (Portage-Lisgar, Man.) The government considers the changes “reducing the burden” by allowing communities to apply for an exemption to operate a consumption site and streamlining the application process while still making sure community consultation is there. Ms. Bergen said that although her caucus has yet to determine a position on the legislation, they want to see more community consultation before these sites are approved. “Clearly, we were the government that brought in strong rigorous consultations with communities before these monitored injection sites are put into people’s neighborhoods. I don’t see anyone in our caucus changing their mind on the importance of that,” Ms. Bergen said, adding that while she recognizes the crisis needs to be addressed. “It’s not fair to people who live in these communities, whose children are going to school, people who aren’t having a drug crisis themselves. They need to be protected as well. Communities need to be protected.” Other priority legislation for the government, according to Ms. Chagger will be: Bill C-30, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act, which is expected to come up in the House this week. The government wants to see a “speedy passage” of this bill, which is currently at second reading in the House but has been debated over a handful of times already. The Conservatives, whose government started this trade deal, is onside with seeing it move through quickly. Bill C-36, An Act to Amend the Statistics Act, which is scheduled for its first round of second reading debate this Monday. The bill is aimed at giving Statistics Canada more independence and the chief statistician more powers. “For a national statistical agency to be credible there must be a high degree of professional independence. Impartial data are necessary for planning critical services that all Canadians rely on,” Ms. Chagger said. Bill C-22, An Act to establish the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, which was amended at the House Public Safety Committee last month to beef up the proposed committee’s oversight powers and is now at report stage. The government has yet to signal whether it’ll adopt or drop the proposed changes, but Ms. Chagger said the proposed bill acknowledges the “important role Parliamentarians can and should play in reviewing national security and intelligence activities." Another big item on everyone’s watch list is the 2017 federal budget. The Liberals promise it’ll contain measures to growth middle class and strengthen the economy, but with new U.S. President Donald Trump, Ms. Bergen said she’s concerned about Canadian economic competitiveness and the Liberals' ability to get spending under control. “We are the only party in the House of Commons that’s speaking on behalf of the taxpayer, and speaking about jobs. That will be front and centre in our agenda because it effects the people that we represent,” Ms. Bergen said. It’s expected the Conservatives will have an opposition day on Thursday. Meanwhile, the NDP said it will focus on three main policies: jobs, health care, and indigenous issues that they feel the government has failed on. They cite a lack of full-time job growth, the government's “divide and conquer” approach to provincial health transfers, and “landmark constitutional decisions” on indigenous rights that the Liberals have yet to reinforce. “The NDP is obviously going to be driving forward legislation that benefits all Canadians, not just the wealthy and the well connected. That is our position and that is our goal, that is our touchstone for this session,” said Mr. Rankin, adding that after a month with constituents, he anticipates the tone in the House will be one of skepticism and doubt about the government delivering on its promises. “The tone that I’m picking up is that we’re frustrated and we’re disappointed in the Liberal’s failures to live up to their promises. We want to convey hope and optimism in the future, but a lot of people are facing serious problems,” he said. The Conservatives will be keeping a close eye on Mr. Trudeau’s attendance at Question Period and the kinds of answers ministers are giving in the House. “If the prime minister would start to show up and answer questions posed to him by the people that are elected by Canadians to ask him questions, that’s going to help the tone,” Ms. Bergen said. As things were left at the end of 2016, the opposition had been raising issue with the lack of government collaboration on debate times and continued use of time allocation. However, Ms. Chagger signalled optimism over having “open discussions about the time needed and the number of members wishing to take part in debate,” and said she’s looking into “different ways to ensure they have additional time to debate legislation,” in a way that still allows the government’s agenda to move forward in a timely fashion. MPs and are scheduled to sit for four straight weeks until Feb. 24 before taking a constituency week. The Week Ahead in Parliament Monday, Jan. 30 The House Citizenship and Immigration Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in-camera, in Room 268, The Valour Building, to consider its draft report on Family Reunification. The House Finance Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Centre Block, Room 253-D to study the Canadian real estate market and home ownership. It will hear from witnesses from the Bank of Canada; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions; Canadian Bankers Association; the Royal Bank of Canada; Canadian Housing and Renewal Association; Canadian Credit Union Association; and Genworth Canada. This meeting will be televised. The House Veterans Affairs Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 7-52, 131 Queen Street, to discuss Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Among Veterans. It will hear from Hélène Le Scelleur as an individual; Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada; and the Veterans Emergency Transition Services. The House Public Accounts Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in-camera in Centre Block, Room 112-N to consider draft reports on The Governor in Council Appointment Process in Administrative Tribunals, of the Spring 2016 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada; and the Special Examination Report, Atlantic Pilotage Authority, of the Fall 2016 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada. The House Environment and Sustainable Development Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in-camera, in The Valour Building, Room 228 to consider a draft report on Federal Protected Areas and Conservation Objectives. Tuesday, Jan. 31 The House Status of Women Committee will meet at 8:45 a.m. in-camera, in The Valour Building, Room 268 to consider its draft report on Violence Against Young Women and Girls in Canada. The House Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee will meet at 8:45 a.m. in-camera, in Centre Block, Room 253-D to do a statutory review of the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and the Special Economic Measures Act. It will then have a briefing with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj. The House Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates will meet at 8:45 a.m. in-camera, in Centre Block, Room 112-N to discuss committee business. The House Fisheries and Oceans Committee will meet at 8:45 a.m. in-camera, in Room 228, The Valour Building, to consider a draft report on its study of Northern Cod Stock and plan future business. The House Industry, Science and Technology Committee will meet at 8:45 a.m. in-camera, in Room 306, The Valour Building, to work on its draft report on the Manufacturing Sector. The House Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee will meet at 11 a.m. in The Valour Building, Room 228, to study poverty reduction strategies. It will hear from experts from the Department of Employment and Social Development; Department of Health; and Public Health Agency of Canada. The House Health Committee will meet at 11 a.m. in-camera, in Room 237-C, Centre Block to discuss committee business. The House Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Citizenship and Immigration Committee will meet at 11 a.m. in-camera, in Room 253-D, Centre Block to discuss committee business. The House Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Procedure and House Affairs Committee will meet at 11 a.m. in-camera, in Centre Block, Room 112-N to discuss committee business. The House Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee will meet at 11 a.m. to discuss committee business and look at its report on the Next Agricultural Policy Framework. The House Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Committee will meet at 11 a.m. in-camera, in Room 306, The Valour Building to consider a draft report on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Regulations. The House Official Languages Committee will meet at 11 a.m. in Room 8-53, 131 Queen Street to plan future business. The House Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in-camera, in Room 112-N, Centre Block to consider a draft report on the Human Rights Situation in Burundi. The House National Defence Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 7-52, 131 Queen Street to continue its study on Canada and the Defence of North America. It will hear from Federal Fleet Services Inc. and Chantier Davie Canada Inc. It will then go in-camera to plan future business. The House Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in The Valour Building, Room 228 to study the Security of Canada Information Sharing Act (SCISA). It will hear from OpenMedia; the Canadian Bar Associatio; and David Fraser, partner, McInnes Cooper. The House Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Status of Women Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in-camera, in Room 112-N, Centre Block to discuss committee business. The House International Trade Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 306, The Valour Building to conduct a clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-31, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine. It will hear from officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. It will then go in-camera to discuss future business. The House Justice and Human Rights Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in-camera in Room 237-C, Centre Block to consider its draft report on the New Process for the Nomination of Supreme Court Justices. The Senate Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. in-camera, in Room 356-S, Centre Block to discuss future business. The Senate Transport and Communications Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Room 2, Victoria Building, to study the transport of crude oil in Canada. It will hear from a number of top TransCanada officials. It will then go in-camera to discuss committee business. The Senate Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee will meet at 5 p.m. in Room 257, East Block, to study the effects of transitioning to a low carbon economy. It will hear from the Global CCS Institute and then go in-camera to consider a draft report. The Senate Fisheries and Oceans Committee will meet at 5 p.m. in a room to be determined to study the Maritime Search and Rescue activities, including current challenges and opportunities. It will hear from officials from CHC Helicopters Canada. Wednesday, Feb. 1 The House Public Accounts Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in-camera, in Room 112-N, Centre Block to hear from Auditor General of Canada Michael Ferguson on his Fall 2016 Reports. The Senate Special Modernization Committee will meet at 12 p.m. in-camera, in Room 257, East Block to continue considering methods to make the Senate more effective within the current constitutional framework and consider future business. The Senate National Security and Defence Committee will meet in-camera at 12 p.m. in Room 2, Victoria Building, to consider future business. The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee will meet at 4:15 p.m. in Room 257, East Block to study Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and other Acts. It will hear from Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Patty Hajdu; Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yussuff; Osgoode Hall Law School professor Bruce Ryder; Employment and Social Development Canada deputy minister Lori Sterling; and Warren J. Newman, senior general counsel, in the Constitutional and Administrative Law Section of the Department of Justice Canada. The Senate Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee will meet at 4:15 p.m. in Room 2, Victoria Building, to study the role of robotics, 3D printing and artificial intelligence in the healthcare system. It will hear from officials from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; National Research Council Canada; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; and MCT. The Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee will meet at 4:15 p.m. in Room 9, Victoria Building to study the Canadian Intellectual Property Office’s User Fee Proposal, and will hear from officials at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. It will then go in-camera to consider future business. The Senate Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee will meet at 4:15 p.m. in Room 160-S, Centre Block to consider a draft agenda. The Senate Transport and Communications Committee will meet at 6:45 p.m. in Room 2, Victoria Building to continue its study on the transport of crude oil in Canada. It will hear from The Conference Board of Canada’s Carlos Murillo; and Pierre Desrochers, professor at the Department of Geography, University of Toronto. Thursday, Feb. 2 The House Status of Women Committee will meet at 8:45 a.m. in Room 420, 180 Wellington Street to study the Economic Security of Women in Canada. It will hear from a number of officials from Status of Women Canada; Statistics Canada; Department of Natural Resources; Department of Industry; Department of Employment and Social Development. The House Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee will meet at 11 a.m. in The Valour Building, Room 228 to discuss Poverty Reduction Strategies. It will hear from officials from the Department of Employment and Social Development; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; and Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The House National Defence Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 7-52, 131 Queen Street to continue studying Canada and the Defence of North America. It will hear from Irving Shipbuilding Inc.; J.D. Irving, Limited; and Seaspan. The House Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Room 228, The Valour Building to study the Security of Canada Information Sharing Act (SCISA). It will hear from officials from the Department of Transport; Communications Security Establishment; and the Department of National Defence. It will then go in-camera to discuss committee business. The House Natural Resources Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. in-camera, in Room 8-53, 131 Queen Street to discuss committee business. The Senate Agriculture and Forestry Committee will meet at 8 a.m. in Room 2, Victoria Building to conduct a study on the acquisition of farmland in Canada and its potential impact on the farming sector. It will hear from officials from the Government of Nova Scotia; and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. in Room 257, East Block to continue studying Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code and other Acts. It will hear from Fraser Institute director Charles Lammam; Canada LabourWatch Association President John Mortimer; and Canadian Taxpayers Federation federal director Aaron Wudrick. It will then conduct a clause-by-clause of the bill. The Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. in Room 9, Victoria Building to study Bill S-224, An Act respecting payments made under construction contracts and will hear from Bill sponsor Donald Plett; McMillan lawyer Geza R. Banfai; the Canadian Roofing Contractors’ Association; Canada’s Building Trades Unions; and Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating. The Senate Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. in Room 160-S, Centre Block to consider future business. The Senate Social Affairs, Science and Technology Committee will meet at 10:30 a.m. in Room 2, Victoria Building to continue studying the role of robotics, 3D printing and artificial intelligence in the healthcare system. It will hear from Center for Innovating the Future Geopolitical Futurist Abishur Prakash; and Medical Futurist Bertalan Mesko. raiello@hilltimes.com The Hill Times

Opioid bill, CETA, budget at top of House agenda as MPs return

With polarized positions on Bill C-37, the safe injection site legislation, expect a hot debate and hard push to get it passed.

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