Political Ottawa will have to continue waiting for Omnibus Budget Bill Part 2.
The Conservatives are expected to unveil the bill this week, but it’s not on the agenda yet. The most recent budget implementation bill — the Conservatives’ first as a majority government, introduced last spring — ran more than 420 pages and was filled with environmental protection and Old Age Security reforms, as well as changes to dozens of other federal acts.
It garnered so much attention … we just can’t wait to see exactly how the sequel will play out.
Some details are trickling out, including changes to MP pensions, creating a small-business hiring tax credit, and offering Employment Insurance benefits for parents of missing or murdered children. But we will have to wait at least another couple of days to uncover the details of the bill — expected to be even thicker than its predecessor.
The second week back in the House of Commons kicks off this morning with debate on Conservative MP David Wilks’ private members bid to amend the Criminal Code, laying down a minimum punishment of five years for kidnapping a person younger than 16 years old, unless the kidnapper is a parent, guardian or someone else legally in charge of the child.
Government business on the table today includes Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s Bill C-43, aka Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act, which is being debated for the first time in the House.
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The bill takes aim at foreign criminals believed to be exploiting Canada’s lengthy appeals system in an effort to delay deportation.
The proposed law would limit access to the Immigration and Refugee Board’s appeal division for criminals sentenced to six months or more. Currently, foreign criminals with a sentence of less than two years have access to the appeal division.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s bill on strengthening military justice in the Defence of Canada Act is also on the docket, as are two bills concerning First Nations that originated in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird will be meeting his British counterpart in Ottawa today. The pair is expected to discuss details of a plan to share embassies in some countries.
Just off the Hill, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney will be in town taking part in a discussion at the Canadian of Chief Executives conference, entitled Canada in the Pacific Century.
Looking ahead to the rest of the week, the House is expected to vote Wednesday whether to approve Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth’s request to have a federal study the definition of “human life.” Government and opposition MPs clashed during a passionate debate last week on the motion, with some alleging this is all a back-door way for the Conservatives to re-open the abortion debate.
In New York the following day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be accepting his World Statesman of the Year award. The ceremony will be the same day as the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly, where prime ministers were invited to speak. Harper instead assigned Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird to UN duty.
By Friday, the Ontario Liberals will be descending on Ottawa for their annual general meeting.
Throughout the week, watch for more on the potential Chinese takeover of the Alberta-based oil company Nexen, which has many wondering how far Canada’s trade ties with China will reach.
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