Alpheus Daily Watch

In today's edition:
  • on the agenda: safe drinking water and matrimonial and property rights for First Nations
  • budget bill set for report stage vote
  • Minister Kent discusses draft 2013-2016 federal sustainable development strategy
  • bill to ratify the Yale First Nation final agreement at committee
  • Looking ahead to the rest of the week

IN THE HOUSE TODAY

Government Orders

House business will lead off with continued  debate on NDP MP Jean Crowder's proposed amendment at third reading stage of Bill S-2, Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act.
Bill status & details – S-2, An Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves Short title: Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act. Legislative Summary: “This enactment provides for the adoption of First Nation laws and the establishment of provisional rules and procedures that apply during a conjugal relationship, when that relationship breaks down or on the death of a spouse or common-law partner, respecting the use, occupation and possession of family homes on First Nation reserves and the division of the value of any interests or rights held by spouses or common-law partners in or to structures and lands on those reserves." Status: Introduced on September 28, 2011 in the Senate.  The bill was adopted with two amendments by the Senate committee on Human Rights, passed third reading in the Senate on December 1, 2011 and referred to the House for consideration.  Introduced in the House on December 8, 2011 and debated at second reading stage on: November 1, 2012; November 22, 2012; April 17, 2013.  Review by the Status of Women committee was conducted over the course of 9 meetings in April and May 2013 with the bill being adopted and reported back to the House without amendment.  Concurred in at report stage on May 27, 2013. House Sponsor: Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Note: The government has given notice of a motion to allocate a specific number of days or hours to third reading debate on this bill.
Members could also also start report stage debate on Bill S-8, An Act respecting the safety of drinking water on First Nation lands, which was recently reported back by the Aboriginal Affairs committee.
Bill status & details - S-8, An Act respecting the safety of drinking water on First Nation lands Short Title: Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act This bill would allow for the development of federal regulations to govern the provision of drinking water, water quality standards and the disposal of waste water in First Nations communities and the incorporation of existing provincial regulations governing drinking water and waste water in First Nations communities. Status: Introduced on February 29, 2012 in the Senate. The bill was adopted with observations by the Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, passed third reading in the Senate on June 18, 2012 and referred to the House for consideration where it received first reading on June 19, 2012. Second reading (House): November 1; November 22; November 26.  Considered by the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs over the course of 3 meetings and adopted with several amendments.  Reported back to the House on May 30, 2013. House Sponsor: Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
Also listed on the agenda as a bill that could be called for debate is S-14 which proposes several amendments to the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act (second reading).  The government has given notice of a motion to set an allotted number of days or hours for debate at this stage.

Today's votes

Government business
  1. votes are scheduled on the report stage motions to be followed by a vote to concur in the budget implementation bill (C-60) at report stage.

COMMITTEE WATCH

Today's House committees

  • Representatives of the BC Treaty Commission and the Sto:lo Nation and Sto:lo Tribal Council will appear at the Aboriginal Affairs committee as part of the hearings on the recently introduced bill to ratify the Yale First Nation Final Agreement (C-62).
  • Citizenship and Immigration department officials are scheduled to brief members of the Citizenship committee on temporary resident visas for visitors.
  • Minister Kent is scheduled to appear before members of the Environment committee convening to review the draft 2013-2016 federal sustainable development strategy, where he will field questions along with senior officials.  The committee will also hear testimony from the interim Environment commissioner, and representatives of the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Technology Canada.
  • Hearings continue at the Human Resources committee on opportunities for older persons in the workforce.  Executives at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Workplace Institute, Unemployed Help Centre, ThirdQuarter, and legal experts are scheduled to appear.
  • Senior public works officials are scheduled for an appearance before members of the Government Operations committee as they examine the integrity provisions for procurement and real property transactions.
  • Foreign Affairs committee members will convene to consider Canada's foreign policy as it relates to North Korea.
  • Blackberry, Open Text Corporation, and CANARIE Inc. are among the groups expected before members of the Industry committee to discuss the adoption of digital technology by Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises.
  • Hearings into Canada's second official language immersion programs are set to continue at the Official Languages committee.
  • The Ontario Road Builders’ Association will be joined by several cycling associations at the Transport committee, as members continue their study on how competition can make infrastructure dollars go further.

Today's Senate committees

  • Vice-chief Simon Bird from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is scheduled to appear before Senators on the Aboriginal Peoples committee to discuss the federal government’s constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.
  • Senators on the National Finance committee are scheduled to review the expenditures set out in the Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014.  Officials from Treasury Board, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd, and Public Safety will be on hand to answer questions.
  • The Senate committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament has scheduled a public hearing to look into the case of RCMP Srgt. Rolly Beaulieu and his alleged muzzling before testifying at another committee on the topic of harassment within the RCMP.  Senators will meet with Mr. Beaulieu and several RCMP officials.
  • At its second meeting, the National Finance committee will review specific clauses in the budget implementation bill (C-60) and has invited testimony from the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada and the Building Construction Trades Department.
  • Executives from the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance will discuss the regulation of Canada's aquaculture industry with Senators at the Fisheries and Oceans committee.
  • Hearings on the safety elements of the bulk transport of hydrocarbon products continue at the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources committee with Senators expected to meet with representatives of the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation and Canadian Pacific.
  • Monsanto Canada president Mike McGuire is slated to appear at the Agriculture and Forestry committee as part of the comprehensive study on research and innovation efforts in the agricultural sector with Senators expected to focus discussion on innovation from an agriculture supply and bio-economy perspective.

Private Members' Business

During the time allotted for private members' business this evening, the House will debate CPC MP James Bezan's bill - which seeks to increase parole ineligibility from the current 25 years up to a maximum of 40 years for an individual found guilty of abduction, sexual assault and murder of one victim.
Bill status & details - C-478, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (increasing parole ineligibility) Short Title: Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act The bill seeks to amend section 745 of the Criminal Code so that a person convicted of the abduction, sexual assault and murder of one victim is sentenced to imprisonment for life without eligibility for parole until the person has served between twenty-five and forty years.  The parole ineligibility period set would be based on judicial discretion by the presiding judge after considering a recommendation, if any is made, by the jury. Status: Introduced on February 27, 2013. Debated at second reading for the first hour on April 25, 2013. Sponsor: James Bezan (MP for Selkirk—Interlake)

IN THE DAYS AHEAD

Upcoming House debates (subject to change)

Wednesday June 5, 2013
  • Government Orders: Wednesday has been allotted the eight and final opposition day.  An NDP motion is set to be debated. This will be followed at 6:30 pm by debate on the main estimates and consideration of two appropriations bills.
Thursday June 6, 2013
  • Government Orders: the Chamber is expected to return to further consideration of the budget implementation bill (C-60).
  • Private Members’ Business: Bill C-489, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (restrictions on offenders) (resuming second reading debate).  Sponsor: Mark Warawa (MP for Langley)
Friday June 7, 2013
  • Private Members’ Business: Bill C-480, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (funeral arrangements) (resuming second reading debate).  Sponsor: François Pilon (MP for Laval—Les Îles)

Votes coming later this week

Wednesday June 5, 2013 Private members' business:
  1. final vote on Bill C-419, An Act respecting language skills which requires persons appointed as officers of Parliament to be able to speak and clearly understand both official languages
  2. final vote on Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights) seeking to amend the Criminal Code to legalize mixed martial arts

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