Politics This Morning: Liberals table COVID-19 spending bill, admit failed pledge to end boil-water advisories this spring

Good Thursday morning, The Liberals didn’t wait long after the fall economic statement to get the ball rolling, tabling new legislation Wednesday to bring about spending set out in the mini-budget. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s first fiscal update on Nov. 30 set out an extra $25-billion in COVID-19 spending and projects, with a record deficit of $381-billion as the best case scenario that could inch closer to $400-billion depending on the pandemic and the level of restrictions the government deems necessary. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau already said the bill would be a confidence vote, though he’s said he’s “reasonably confident” the opposition parties don’t want a snap election. Health Canada may not be long behind the U.K.’s approval of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine, with Health Minister Patty Hajdu tweeting Wednesday that the development is “encouraging” and Canada's finalized review is expected “soon.” https://twitter.com/PattyHajdu/status/1334205728899420163 Canada has agreed to buy at least 20 million doses from Pfizer, one of seven drugmakers Canada has struck agreements with, and the first four million are expected to arrive between January and March, per Global News. The government won’t meet its target to end long-term boil-water advisories in First Nations communities by March 2021, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday. “We’ve known for a long time there have been challenges; we’ve been scrambling to meet those deadlines,” Mr. Miller said in a press briefing, per The Hill Times. He took responsibility for the failed deadline and acknowledged delays caused by the pandemic—including construction schedules in communities that limited entry from outsiders—were not the sole reason for the failed schedule. It’s expected about 22 advisories across 10 communities will be in effect after the first quarter of 2021, down from the 59 long-term advisories in 41 communities currently in effect. In scheduled events, Mr. Trudeau will address the House of Commons ahead of the Dec. 6 anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique de Montréal tragedy, where an anti-feminist gunman killed 14 women before turning the weapon on himself. Later, the PMO says he’ll take part in a virtual discussion with faith leaders about their communities' contributions during COVID-19, followed by a virtual visit to a Montreal small clothing shop. He’ll also attend the United Nations’ Special Session of the General Assembly in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole is holding a morning presser to speak about his opposition motion today. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Earlier in the day, Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. to discuss the Conservative opposition day motion, joined by his health critic Michelle Rempel Garner. Also at 9 a.m., the Parliamentary Budget Officer will post a new legislative costing note on Bill 206, and the extension of the exemption for qualifying farming fuel to marketable natural gas and propane. There are 12 House committees on the docket today, with one focused on government legislation as the Justice committee continues its study of a law to ban conversion therapy, Bill C-6. At 11 a.m. Canada’s Auditor General Karen Hogan is appearing before the Public Accounts committee, while the Industry committee hears from Matthew Boswell, Commissioner of Competition, for a briefing on the Office of the Competition Bureau of Canada. The Transport committee is turning its work to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation sector, hearing from various airline and airport associations at 3:30 p.m. It’s also been looking into the aircraft certification process, in the wake of a 2019 Boeing 737 Max crash over Ethiopia, leaving 157 dead, including 18 Canadians. Families of victims have called for the planes to stay grounded and for Canada to call an inquiry outside of the House committee study, as The Hill Times reported, and yesterday again denounced the company during what they called a “promotional flight.” The American Airlines flight Wednesday was the first public flight of a Boeing 737 Max plane after they were grounded following the deadly crash, and more than a week after U.S. safety regulators cleared the plane as safe to fly. Chris Moore, who lost his daughter in the model’s second deadly crash and testified before the Transport Committee last week about his continued concerns, reiterated Wednesday that there are still too many questions. "Is the Max safer than the 737 NG, which was the predecessor of the Max? Is it 'safe' only because it meets the regulations that grandfathers in approval of hazards and antiquated systems? And what would a third crash do to this fleet? For the aviation industry? What does accountability look like if there's a third designer-related crash?" Mr. Moore said in a statement shared with The Hill Times. ISG Senator Chantal Petitclerc is taking part in a panel and announcement as part of International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Over in the Senate, the powerful Internal Economy Committee will hear from Non-Affiliated Senator Lynn Beyak. Before prorogation, Sen. Beyak was still serving her second suspension stemming from a yearslong controversy around letters she posted to her website that the Senate deemed racist, but that suspension ended with the first session in August, and she returned to regular duties and pay. Before prorogation, the matter would have appeared before the Senate for a vote, following an Ethics Committee recommendation that she be reinstated after the Ontario Senator apologized for posting the letters and participated in anti-racism training. More recently, Sen. Beyak appeared in the news ahead of the U.S. election for donating to President Donald Trump, in violation of the country’s campaign finance laws, according to Vice News. In virtual events, at 10 a.m. Independent Senator Chantal Petitclerc and Wheelchair Basketball Canada will make an announcement as part of International Day for Persons with Disabilities, followed by a panel discussion with Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault, Sen. Petitclerc, and Patrick Anderson, a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and world champion. And, at 4 p.m., the United Nations Association in Canada is naming former Bank of Canada Governor, Mark Carney, as its 2020 Global Citizen Laureate at a virtual award presentation. The Hill Times

Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Liberals table COVID-19 spending bill, admit failed pledge to end boil-water advisories this spring

Plus, Health Minister Patty Hajdu says Health Canada’s review of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is expected ‘soon.’

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Follow us

Advertise

subscribe

get help

Get free news updates

Submit a guest opinion article

Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Liberals table COVID-19 spending bill, admit failed pledge to end boil-water advisories this spring

Plus, Health Minister Patty Hajdu says Health Canada’s review of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is expected ‘soon.’

Become a Political Insider