Happy Wednesday everyone!
Before we go into what’s happened this week I’d just like to direct your attention to a new feature on the site. If you check the sidebar (or the navigation button if you’re on mobile) you’ll find a place to sign up to get email notifications when new posts go up! Once you’ve signed up you’ll also be able to set it so you only get weekly summary emails as well if you feel like you’re getting too much.
Anyway, let’s get to it!
Election of the Speaker
We’re going to start off with a quick summary of the election for the new Speaker. The final list of candidates were:
- Peter Schiefke (Liberal, Quebec, Vaudreuil—Soulanges)
- Alexandra Mendès (Liberal, Quebec, Brossard—Saint-Lambert)
- Elizabeth May (Green, British Columbia, Saanich—Gulf Islands)
- Carol Hughes (NDP, Ontario, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing)
- Greg Fergus (Liberal, Quebec, Hull—Aylmer)
- Chris d’Entremont (Conservative, Nova Scotia, West Nova)
- Sean Casey (Liberal, Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown)
Greg Fergus won the election and will now serve as Speaker of the House of Commons.
Motions
Our first Motion for the week comes from Mike Lake (Conservative, Alberta, Edmonton—Wetaskiwin).
The House recognize that:
- Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Canada signed in 2007 and ratified in 2010, states that signatories “shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning directed to enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society”
- According to the Global Education Monitoring Report, in low- and middle-income countries, approximately 50% of children with disabilities are estimated to be out of school
- A 2021 UNICEF report found that, compared to children without disabilities, children with disabilities were 49% more likely to have never attended school
And in the opinion of the House, where the federal government spends money on education, domestically or internationally, clear consideration must be given to the maximum inclusion of people with disabilities, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Pretty simple one here, Mike wants to make sure any money the feds spend on education is used in a way that makes sure it’s accessible to people with disabilities. Looks like everyone agreed with this as the Motion passed with everyone voting in favour of it.
Bill Updates
C-323 – An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (mental health services)
C-323 went up for its Second Reading vote and passed with everyone voting in favour! It will now be sent to the Standing Committee on Finance.
S-222 – An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood)
S-222 went up for its Third Reading vote and passed with everyone voting in favour! It’s now waiting to be given Royal Assent.
C-280 – The Financial Protection for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmers Act
C-280 came back from the Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food without change and will now move on to its Third Reading.
Closing Fun
And that’s all for the week!
Mr. Speaker, while St. Peter denied Christ three times, the Atlantic Liberal MPs denied the harmful effects of the carbon tax on their constituents 23 times.
Based on Canadian averages for carbon emissions per kilometre, my hon. colleague across the way created 75 kilos of carbon emissions this morning when his daddy drove his papers to Ottawa for him. I wonder if the member knows that documents can be scanned and emailed, and that would cause no carbon footprint.
Does the member take full responsibility for the carbon he created this morning in a useless fashion?
Clifford Small (Conservative, Newfoundland and Labrador, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame)