Politics This Morning: Trudeau in a pickle over Ford’s use of notwithstanding clause

Good Wednesday morning, The House and Senate are both sitting today, and the Public Order Emergency Commission will get into its second day of witness testimony from organizers of the "Freedom Convoy." Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU is scheduled to attend Question Period, where he will likely face further questions from the NDP about how he plans to respond to Ontario Premier DOUG FORD's use of the notwithstanding clause to pre-empt strike action by education workers. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Trudeau condemned the use of the clause as part of a controversial bill that would prevent the workers from going on strike following the breakdown of contract negotiations with the province. The notwithstanding clause would insulate the bill from a Charter challenge for five years. Justice Minister DAVID LAMETTI and Labour Minister SEAMUS O’REGAN also told reporters yesterday they opposed the Ontario government’s use of the clause. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has said 55,000 early childhood educators, librarians, custodians, and other education workers will walk off the job Friday despite the legislation, which is being rushed through the Ontario legislature. Haitian ambassador to testify before House committee WIEN-WEIBERT ARTHUS, Haiti's ambassador to Canada, will appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee at 4:30 p.m. Ottawa time to brief MPs on the ongoing crisis in the former French colony. The country has been in turmoil since Haitian president JOVENEL MOÏSE was assassinated last year. More recently, there has been a cholera outbreak and politically connected gangs have blockaded ports—intercepting shipments of key supplies—and attempted to abduct three air traffic controllers. According to The Canadian Press, UN Secretary-General ANTÓNIO GUTERRES has endorsed an international military mission to intervene to restore order, and U.S. officials are looking to Canada to lead such a mission. But Canada’s ambassador to Haiti, SÉBASTIEN CARRIÈRE, told the committee on Monday that the Canadian government has not yet decided where it stands on the idea. Haiti’s acting prime minister ARIEL HENRY, who has had the backing of the United States and Canada, has called for foreign military intervention. But human rights advocates have called on the foreign powers to reject those calls and to reconsider their support for Henry. Committee looking into anticipated labour shortages Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, seen here speaking with reporters outside West Block on Oct. 3, 2022, launched the National Supply Chain Task Force at the beginning of 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade The House Transport Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. Ottawa time to continue its wide-ranging study of anticipated labour shortages in the transportation sector, which have implications for supply chains, inflation, agriculture, tourism, and immigration. The committee met five times in October to hear from witnesses representing trucking, agriculture, aviation, ports, and the associated unions. Today MPs will hear from JEAN GATTUSO and LOUISE YAKO, the two co-chairs of the National Supply Chain Task Force. The task force’s final report, released on Oct. 6, made recommendations across multiple sectors. Transport Canada said at the time that transportation costs were a major driver of overall price growth in 2021, “leading all major inflation categories." Officials from the department of citizenship and immigration, the department of employment and social development, and the department of transport will also appear before the committee today. Immigration Minister SEAN FRASER announced yesterday that he plans to increase the overall number of immigrants coming into Canada over the next few years, largely in an effort to address labour shortages in key sectors. The new plan, which sets a target of 500,000 new immigrants in 2025, compared to the current record of 405,000 in 2021, focuses on economic migrants ahead of family reunification and refugees. What else is happening today? The House Human Resources Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. Ottawa time to continue its study of Bill C-22, which could create a Canada Disability Benefit as a federal top-up to existing provincial and territorial income support programs for people with disabilities aged 18 to 64. The bill has already received support in principle from representatives of every party. Employment Minister CARLA QUALTROUGH, who also manages the disability inclusion file, appeared before the committee on Monday. MPs will hear today from representatives of organizations that serve people with disabilities. The House Agriculture Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. to continue its study of global food insecurity. MPs will hear from agriculture and logistics experts as well as representatives of rural Saskatchewan municipalities and the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. The House Ethics Committee will meet in camera at 4:30 p.m. to discuss its draft report on the RCMP’s use of spyware on cell phones and other personal devices. RCMP officers have told the committee that these tools have only been used when authorized by judicial warrants, but privacy advocates have criticized the fact that the RCMP has used these tools for years without informing the privacy commissioner. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, seen here on Oct. 4, 2022, will appear before the Senate Finance Committee today, alongside Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen and National Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Health Minister JEAN-YVES DUCLOS, Housing Minister AHMED HUSSEN, and Minister of National Revenue DIANE LEBOUTHILLIER will all appear before the Senate Finance Committee today to answer questions about Bill C-31, the government’s bill to temporarily subsidize dental care for children under 12 and to provide one-time payments to lower-income renters. In the news Non-affiliated Senators are pushing for the Red Chamber to rewrite its rules and procedures to allow them to participate more fully in Senate business, without relying on the goodwill of recognized groups. LAURA RYCKEWAERT has that story. Following LIZ TRUSS’ resignation as British prime minister and the accession of her successor, RISHI SUNAK, Canada now has a new dance partner for its free trade negotiations with the United Kingdom. NEIL MOSS delves into how the turmoil in London will affect the trade negotiations. Moss also has the details on how the House National Defence Committee has agreed to invite Defence Minister ANITA ANAND to discuss NORAD modernization in an unusual secret appearance. Photo of the Day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau awaits the arrival of Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettelat West Block on Nov. 1, 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade kphilipupillai@hilltimes.com The Hill Times

Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Trudeau in a pickle over Ford’s use of notwithstanding clause

Plus, the health minister, housing minister, and national revenue minister will all appear before the Senate Finance Committee to discuss one of the government’s cost-of-living bills.

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Politics This Morning

Politics This Morning: Trudeau in a pickle over Ford’s use of notwithstanding clause

Plus, the health minister, housing minister, and national revenue minister will all appear before the Senate Finance Committee to discuss one of the government’s cost-of-living bills.

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