Forced insomnia unites MPs as Conservatives ram budget bill through.
by Ish Theilheimer and Samantha Bayard with YouTube video
OTTAWA, Straight Goods News, June 18, 2012 — The outcome was never truly in doubt. This week, despite three months of protest, the Conservative "Trojan Horse" omnibus budget bill, all 400+ pages changing more than 70 laws passed, despite a two-date filibuster.
The budget throws tens of thousands out of work, raises the retirement age and pushes environmental protection back to the 1950s and now it awaits only Senate approval before becoming law.
Here are some of the people and news items we covered this week:
Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism wants to makes changes to the Immigration Act in order to deny people visas based on the industries they are working in. These measures were adopted into law with Bill C-10. Kenney makes it seems like he is avoiding trafficking, exploitation and human smuggling. But opposition parties are wary of Conservative motives as well as of giving the Minister so much power.
Jason Kenney wants to deny immigrants visas based on the industry they work in.
Jinny Sims, the NDP Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Critic wants to maintain the Asylum Seekers Convention in the legislation. She feels that new Canadians putting their lives at risk to come to Canada should be aided not jailed. Changes to this legislation should be reflective of Canadian values, but also of our charter and of UN conventions. "The government has a way of talking about this bill as if it's about catching smugglers. There is nothing in this bill that will go after smugglers… This is really about punishing the most vulnerable citizens when they arrive here… This is not our Canada."
Jinny Sims wants to protect our most vulnerable citizens.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Thomas Mulcair has long touted his belief in sustainable development practices and the polluter-pay principle despite heat he has taken for it. Recently he has been criticized for not applying the polluter pay principles to Quebec's hydro sector. His response is that he has a proven track record of being fair and not compromising on the environment. "The essence of all public administration is ensuring even enforcement of the law, irrespective of the size of the industry. That's the hallmark of what I have done as an environment minister is Quebec."
Thomas Mulcair says his stand is his consitent on sustainable development.
Nathan Cullen, NDP House Leader, speaks on the government's lack of a long term energy plan. In light of the report recently release by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives outlining a zero carbon future, "they have doubled down on the oil sector. It seems to be me there needs to be a little more balance in our energy policy."
Nathan Cullen wants a more balanced energy policy.
Erin Weir, economist for the United Steelworkers, was recently attacked in a fashion similar to old school McCarthyism by Conservative MP Randy Hoback over his possible ties to the New Democratic Party. Weir sat down with Ish Theilheimer recently to talk about the unusual cross examination of Weir’s quite public political involvement. "Well it was really quite out of the blue. I was there testifying about the Omnibus Budget Bill changes to the Investment Canada Act… then he proceeded to question me about my political affiliations," said Weir.
Erin Weir speaks with Ish Theilheimer on his attack by Randy Hoback
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Avaaz, a global campaigning organization, delivered a petition alongside MPs from the Green Party, the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party, with the support of more than 58,000 Canadians, urging Conservative MPs to reject bill C-38. Gord and Bonnie Johnston of Sundre Alberta shared their personal story of how unbridled oil development has a powerful human toll. Their property was destroyed when thousands of barrels of oil leaked from a pipeline into the Red Deer River.
"As the decision makers go forward I hope that they will remember that those decisions that they make impact people like us. Our greatest fear is that in a week or so nobody is going to remember this… What is going to change?" said Bonnie Johnston.
Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada, hoped against hope that some Conservative MPs would speak out, despite the odds against it and be remembered; "so it is really asking a lot of Conservative colleagues in the House to do anything to suggest they still have their conscience, their own mind, and their own ability to improve this legislation."
More than 58,300 Canadians call on Conservative MPs to reject Bill C 38.
Last Wednesday interim Liberal leader Bob Rae announced he would not be running for permanent Liberal leadership, Justin Trudeau is being strongly encouraged to run, he told reporters in a scrum: "Whether or not I end up going back on my decision to become leader or not, there will be a lot of work for all of us… to fight against this polarization. Mr Harper and Mr Mulcair are flip sides of the same coin, ideologically based, trying to drive Canadians into voting against things rather than for things. The Liberal Party can and must be a positive choice,"said Trudeau.
Justin Tudeau hasn't yet decided if he will run for Liberal Leadership.
On Wednesday and Thursday came the marathon debate over the budget omnibus bill. During the early hours of the morning on Thursday, Straight Goods News spoke with Liberal, NDP, Conservative, and Green MPs, all of whom had their own strategies to keep alert and awake during marathon voting session on the hundreds of amendments to Bill C-38.
Liberal MP Scott Simms ate a full bag of gummy bears, whereas Paul Dewar and Megan Leslie prepared with naps. Opposition MPs seemed to be energized by the feeling they were doing the right thing, and making an impact.
"I was in Halifax last weekend and I overheard people in a café talking about changes to the Fisheries Act. It's incredible how people are responding," said the NDP's Megan Leslie. Elizabeth May said: "There's a sense of shared anticipation of it being greuling. So between the opposition and Conservative Members of Parliament there is a sense of camaraderie, strangely enough."
MPs talk before voting all night and day on C-38.
In the end, the budget passed, as expected, with no amendments.
About Ish Theilheimer and Samantha Bayard
Ish Theilheimer is founder and publisher of SG News and lives in Golden Lake, ON. Samantha Bayard is an Ottawa reporter and an editorial and administrative assistant at SGNews.
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