The Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight released its 2024 annual report on June 6, 2024. Highlights include the hiring of a Chief Audit Executive, whose responsibilities include leading the Senate’s internal audit function in support of the committee’s commitment to integrity, independence, transparency and accountability. The full release is available online. Contact amely.coulombe@sen.parl.gc.ca.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry released a new report, entitled Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health, which digs deep into the critical role of soil in mitigating climate change, contributing to biodiversity and putting food on tables. The committee is urging the federal government to lead … Read more
The federal government must secure a sustainable future for Canada’s seal harvest by supporting measures that increase the annual harvest, revitalize the seal products industry, improve seal population management and maintain healthy ocean ecosystems, the Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans said in a report released May 23. The committee is calling on the government to implement a domestic … Read more
The Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released its report on Canada’s temporary and migrant labour force, Act Now: Solutions for temporary and migrant labour in Canada. Over the course of its study, which began in November 2022, the committee heard evidence from workers, employers, labour unions, academics, policy experts and government officials. Committee members also … Read more
On April 30, Bill S-209 to establish Pandemic Day in Canada, received Royal Assent. The bill’s sponsor, ISG Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie, expressed her gratitude to parliamentarians from both Chambers, stakeholders, and the public for their support throughout the legislative process. She emphasized that the adoption of Bill S-209 reflects Canada’s commitment to prioritizing the health and well-being of individuals, … Read more
The federal intake cap on international students appears to be negatively affecting Canada’s French-language colleges and university outside of Quebec — and the Senate Committee on Official Languages is launching a study to hear witnesses and possibly make recommendations to the federal government. The committee anticipates calling Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller (Ville-Marie-Le Sud-Ouest-Île-des-Sœurs, Que.) to testify, as … Read more
Canada’s foreign service would benefit from increased staffing and specialization if it is to meet the urgent challenges of the 21st century, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade said in a report released Dec. 6, 2023. The report, More than a Vocation: Canada’s Need for a 21st Century Foreign Service, is the first substantive examination of the … Read more
The federal government should strengthen consumer mortgage protections, improve programs that increase productivity in the construction sector and beef up the supply of skilled workers to address Canada’s housing affordability crisis, a Senate committee said in an interim report released Dec. 5. The report of the Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy summarizes expert evidence … Read more
The first Youth-Parliament Nuclear Summit concluded Nov. 21 by issuing a Youth Declaration calling on the Government of Canada to “sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons thereby demonstrating its commitment to the global movement for nuclear disarmament and the wellbeing of humanity. Parliamentary co-hosts non-affiliated Senators Marilou McPhedran and Mary Jane McCallum, … Read more
A strong majority of Canadians support four proposals to expand gun control measures in this country including a controversial freeze on handguns, according to a new public opinion poll. The poll shows that 96 per cent of Canadians support (86 per cent) or somewhat support (10 per cent) removing a firearms license from someone in … Read more
