The Senate Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy was tabled in the Senate Tuesday, Feb. 16. The policy was developed by senators on the Subcommittee on Human Resources with extensive input from the Senate’s Policy Health and Safety Committee, which includes representatives from all categories of Senate employees. The release is available online. Call 613-614-1180.
A Statistics Canada survey, created in collaboration with sector representatives, found that immigrants and racialized people are underrepresented on the governing boards of charities and nonprofits. Among participating board members, 14 per cent identified as being immigrants to Canada; 12 per cent identified as belonging to a visible minority group; and 3 per cent identified … Read more
The Senate has agreed to hold a structured final round of debate on medical assistance in dying legislation at third reading, including a streamlined plan for votes on proposed amendments, ahead of a final vote by February 17. “I am pleased that senators have agreed to a focused debate on Bill C-7 in order to have … Read more
Senator Kim Pate issued the following statement: “The report of the BC Expert Panel on Basic Income recommends much needed steps toward basic income for Canadians living in poverty but designs them to provide too little and too late. The report rightly identifies that single, working-aged adults, including single parents, are most likely to be marginalized … Read more
Following consultations with the leaders and facilitators of all recognized parties and parliamentary groups, George Furey, Speaker of the Senate, has extended the adjournment period until Monday, February 8, 2021, at 2 p.m. Call 613-995-2891.
Senator Lynn Beyak announced that effective January 25, 2021, she was retiring from the Senate of Canada. Call 613-996-8680.
Senators Margaret Dawn Anderson, Yvonne Boyer, Daniel Christmas, Brian Francis, Josée Forest-Niesing, Marty Klyne, Sandra M. Lovelace Nicholas, Mary Jane McCallum, and Murray Sinclair issued a statement calling on parliamentarians to commit to ongoing education and training for reconciliation: “This week marked the fifth anniversary of the release of the Final Report of the Truth … Read more
Senator Percy Downe will introduce amendments to the Broadcasting Act to prevent the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from accepting any sponsored content and to require the broadcaster to maintain local provincial broadcasting at the current levels. Senator Downe’s proposed amendments seek to prevent both a repeat of such cancellations in the future as well as the use of sponsored … Read more
The Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs conducted a pre-study of Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), which is still being debated at third reading in the House of Commons. The committee’s report provides an overview of the main issues raised during the hearings. The full release is available online. Call 613-614-1180.
Senator Kim Pate proposed in the Senate an amendment that Senators refuse consideration of Bill C-17, a bill funding the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, until it contains sufficient supports to ensure that 3.5 million people living in Canada who are currently below the poverty line are able to meet basic social, economic and … Read more
