Alpheus Daily Watch

In today's edition:
  • motion asks, "where is the missing $3.1 billion?"
  • private member's bill aims to promote travel within Canada
  • committee scrutiny of budget implementation bill begins
  • Senate committees aim to conclude review of several government bills; S-16, C-47, C-43
  • looking ahead to the rest of the week

TODAY IN THE HOUSE

Government Orders

Today being the seventh opposition day, debate in the Chamber will focus on the NDP motion calling for the release of  documents relating to the unaccounted for $3.1 billion in security spending outlined in the Auditor General's latest report.
Seventh allotted day (Auditor General's Spring 2013 report) Full text of motion: That, in light of $3.1 billion of missing funds outlined in Chapter Eight of the 2013 Spring Report of the Auditor General of Canada, an order of the House do issue for the following documents from 2001 to the present, allowing for redaction based on national security: (a) all Public Security and Anti-Terrorism annual reports submitted to the Treasury Board Secretariat; (b) all Treasury Board submissions made as part of the Initiative; (c) all departmental evaluations of the Initiative; (d) the Treasury Board corporate database established to monitor funding; that these records be provided to the House in both official languages by June 17, 2013; that the Speaker make arrangements for these records to be made available online; and that the Auditor-General be given all necessary resources to perform an in-depth forensic audit until the missing $3.1 billion is found and accounted for.

Private Members' Business

During private members' hour, debate is scheduled on bill C-463, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (travel expenses) at second reading for the second hour. Sponsored by Liberal MP Massimo Pacetti, this bill seeks to promote travel within Canada by providing an income tax deduction for the purchase of tickets for non- business travel when at least three different provincial boundaries are crossed.
Bill status & details (C-463) Short Title: Discover Your Canada Act This bill seeks to modify the Income Tax Act to provide an income tax deduction relating to the expense of purchasing tickets for an individual or a dependent child, for non-business travel by airplane, train or bus if at least three different provincial boundaries are crossed during travel. The bill would provide a 100% deduction for the cost of bus tickets, a 75% deduction for train tickets and a 40% deduction for plane tickets to a maximum of $1,000 per person per year. Status: Introduced on November 6, 2012.  Debated at second reading (first of 2 hours) on March 27, 2013. Sponsor: Massimo Pacetti (MP for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel)

Business of Supply - Committee of the Whole

Later this evening, the House resolve itself into committee of the whole for consideration of  all votes under Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development in the 2013-14 Main Estimates; proceedings that will likely keep members in the House until late into the night (debate up to 4 hours).

COMMITTEE WATCH

Today's House committees

  • Veterans Affairs will hear from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as part of the comparative analysis being done on the services and benefits offered to veterans by Canada and its allies, before turning to consideration of Bill S-213, Korean War Veterans Day Act.
  • Environment committee members will be hearing from the Canadian Nuclear Association, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and two academic experts from the University of British Columbia as they continue the study on habitat conversation.
  • Officials from over 12 departments and agencies will be on hand to answer technical questions as the Finance committee begins its careful review of details of the budget implementation bill (C-60).
  • Public Safety committee members will convene for a briefing on the security of rail transport where officials from Public Safety, RCMP, CSIS, and Transport and representatives of VIA Rail Inc. will be available to answer questions.
  • Eleven MPs representing GTA and Northern Ontario ridings will be the next group to appear before the Procedure and House Affairs committee to discuss the 2012 report of the federal electoral boundaries commission for Ontario.
  • Continuing on with the study of losses in honey bee colonies, the Agriculture committee will hear testimony from the Canadian Honey Council, Day of the Honey Bee, Munro Honey and Munro's Meadery, as well as from Health Canada officials in the Pest Management Regulatory branch.
  • Status of Women is scheduled to begin clause by clause review of Bill S-2, Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act.
  • Senior HRSDC officials are slated to appear before members of the Human Resources committee to discuss Clauses 161 to 166 of the budget implementation bill (C-60) which pertain to proposed changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program.
  • History professor Dana Frank from the University of California will provide insight into the human rights situation in Honduras to members of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights.
  • Executives from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences are slated to appear before the Health committee as part of the study on technological innovation.
  • Industry will hold a closed door session in order to meet with representatives of the Parliament of Finland who comprise the  Education and Culture Committee.  Ambassador Charles Murto from the Republic of Finland will also join in the meeting along with other embassy officials.
  • Commissioner of Official Languages Graham Fraser is scheduled to appear to field questions from Officials Languages committee members on the 2013-13 Main Estimates
  • Natural Resources will continue to hear testimony on market diversification in the energy sector.  Among today's expected witnesses are the president and CEOs of the Canadian Propane Association and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association.
  • Continuing with the examination of how competition can make infrastructure dollars go further, Transport committee members will next meet with representatives of the Canadian Construction Association, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada and the Christian Labour Association of Canada.

Today's Senate committees

  • As part of the comprehensive study on research and innovation efforts in the agricultural sector, today's meeting at the Agriculture and Forestry committee will focus on innovation from the producers’ perspective and opportunities for youth in the sector
  • Clause by clause review is scheduled at the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources committee on Bill C-47, Northern Jobs and Growth Act.
  • Meanwhile, Legal and Constitutional Affairs will first convene to conduct clause by clause consideration of the Tackling Contraband Tobacco Act (S-16) and will then hear from Woodstock police chief Rodney Freeman and representatives of victim support groups on Bill C-299, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (kidnapping of young person); a bill which seeks to prescribe a minimum sentence for the kidnapping of a person under 16.
  • Over at Social Affairs, Science and Technology, Senators will also be busy scrutinizing bill C-43, Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act on a clause by clause basis.

IN THE DAYS AHEAD

 Upcoming House debates (subject to change)

Friday May 10, 2013
  • Private Members’ Business: Bill C-479, An Act to Bring Fairness for the Victims of Violent Offenders (second reading, first time debated). Sponsor: David Sweet (MP for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale)

Committee of the Whole

  • All votes in the 2013-14 Main Estimates under Natural Resources have also been selected to be referred for consideration by Committee of the Whole. The date for consideration has not yet been designated.
 

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