Inside Politics

OotD: Bullying, terrorism on the agenda as MPs return to the Hill

by Kady O'Malley Posted: October 15, 2012 8:39 AM Last Updated: October 15, 2012 10:05 AM
As the House returns to regular parliamentary business following the week-long Thanksgiving recess, the first day back in the Chamber will likely (at least, one hopes) begin on a nonpartisan note as MPs consider New Democrat MP Dany Morin's private members' motion to strike a special committee to develop a national anti-bullying strategy, a proposal that seems all the more timely coming, as it does, just days after the much-publicized suicide of British Columbia teen Amanda Todd.

Before the discussion gets underway, Morin will hit the Commons Foyer to discuss his motion, which, unlike most such private members' initiative, would, if passed, automatically result in the committee being created, although the government would not be bound to accept the resulting recommendations.   

UPDATE: Here's the full text of Morin's motion: 

M-385 -- May 30, 2012 -- Mr. Morin (Chicoutimi--Le Fjord) -- That, given that bullying is a serious problem affecting Canadian communities, a special committee of the House be appointed and directed to develop a National Bullying Prevention Strategy to: (a) study the prevalence and impact of different types of bullying, including physical, verbal, indirect and cyber bullying; (b) identify and adopt a range of evidence-based anti-bullying best practices; (c) promote and disseminate anti-bullying information to Canadian families through a variety of mediums; (d) provide support for organizations that work with young people to promote positive and safe environments; (e) focus on prevention rather than criminalization; and that the committee consist of 12 members which shall include seven members from the government party, four members from the Official Opposition and one member from the Liberal Party, provided that the Chair shall be from the government party; that in addition to the Chair, there be one Vice-Chair from each of the opposition parties; that the committee have all of the powers of a Standing Committee as provided in the Standing Orders; that the members to serve on the said committee be appointed by the Whip of each party depositing with the Clerk of the House a list of his or her party's members of the committee no later than five sitting days following the adoption of this motion; that the quorum of the special committee be seven members for any proceedings, provided that at least a member of the opposition and of the government party be present; that membership substitutions be permitted to be made from time to time, if required, in the manner provided for in Standing Order 114(2); and that the committee report its recommendations to this House within one year of the adoption of this motion.


Once private members' hour is over, the House will switch to second reading scrutiny of S-7, the government's latest anti-terrorism initiative, which was initially introduced in, and passed by the Senate, and would, among other changes, revive the sunsetted investigative hearing powers, as well as S-9, which would create several new offences related to nuclear material.

Later today, the Liberals will give the House a heads up on which motion it will put forward during tomorrow's supply day debate. (Read all about the available options here.)

On the committee front:

Finance gets back to pre-budget consultations with an extended three-hour session that will see a wide variety of witnesses -- from the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, the Canadian Energy Pipeline Associations, the Tax Executives Institute and Canadian Labour Congress, among others -- troop before MPs to share their thoughts on how the government should approach the next iteration of the Economic Action! Plan. (Mark my words, that ad-ready moniker isn't going anywhere anytime soon.)

At Environment, committee members will meet with newly Order in Council-promoted civil servants  Bob Hamilton, recently named deputy minister at Environment Canada and incoming Parks Canada CEO Alan Latourelle.

Also on the schedule for this afternoon:

  • Veterans resumes its review of the review and appeal board
  • Citizenship and Immigration hears from Action Refugies Montreal and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants as part of its ongoing investigation into security within the immigration system
  • Public Safety and Aboriginal Affairs study the government's pitches to heighten accountability within the RCMP and First Nations finances, respectively.

Outside the precinct, Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan kicks off this year's Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Conference with a keynote address at the Westin Hotel.

In Toronto, International Trade Minister Ed Fast pays a visit to Mellow Walk Footwear to demonstrate how government and business are "working together" to help small businesses expand in Europe.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews will attend the official opening of a "state-of-the-art" border guard training facility in Rigaud.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Small Business Maxime Bernier makes "a business-related announcement" during a visit to Iqaluit.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, Environment Minister Peter Kent attends the 16th annual Chatham House Conference on Climate Change.

Finally, later this evening, Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney will speak to the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance.

For up to the minute dispatches from the precinct and beyond, keep your eye on the Parliament Hill Ticker below -- or, alternatively, bookmark it and check back throughout the day. 

Mobile-friendly auto-updating text feed available here

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