Re: COVIDD-19 'Pandemic'
OTTAWA -- The federal Liberals are proposing to grant themselves the power to spend money, borrow, and change taxes without parliamentary approval through to Dec. 31, 2021, according to a draft copy of legislation the government is expected to table Tuesday as it passes COVID-19 emergency economic measures.
According to a copy of the bill obtained by CTV News, it would -- if passed as worded -- allow the cabinet “temporary” powers related to borrowing fund and imposing and repealing taxes as well as increasing or decreasing a tax rate by regulation, without seeking parliamentary approval, “before 2022.”
The bill summary states that this measure is “as part of the response to COVID-19,” but would, if passed as drafted, allow money to flow without MPs scrutinizing it for a period of time considerably extended beyond current estimates of when Canadian society may return to some sense of normalcy, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to making the needed legislative changes to implement the promised financial assistance measures for Canadians and businesses, the “advance copy” proposes to create a new “Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act” which would grant Finance Minister Bill Morneau the ability to spend “all money required to do anything, including making payments to provinces and territories,” in relation to public health events of national concern.
The Liberals are suggesting the bill be cited as the “COVID-19 Emergency Response Act.” The draft version spans 44 pages and includes 20 sections.
Among the other acts it makes amendments to— largely related to measures committed by Trudeau and Morneau last week—include the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act; the Export Development Act; the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act; the Canada Labour Code; and the Patent Act.
The special bill has been put on notice by Finance Minister Bill Morneau, and it is the only item of business on Tuesday’s agenda.
Copies of the bill were provided to members of the opposition under embargo until it is tabled in the House of Commons.
Asked to comment on the contents of the leaked bill, Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez’s office told CTVNews.ca: “We can’t comment on the contents of a bill before it is introduced in the House of Commons. All parties are working together collaboratively to ensure Canadians get rapid access to the financial measures they need.”
It is possible that ongoing backroom negotiations will result in the bill being amended before it is presented.
Outrage over what some are viewing as a legislative overreach amid a global pandemic could push the Liberals to change the wording given the urgent need of many Canadians to see the fiscal measures within it passed as soon as possible. In a minority parliament the Liberals will be required to get the backing of at least one other major opposition party to see this spending measure passed.
On Sunday, Trudeau announced that the House of Commons will resume for a special hours-long sitting to pass the aspects of the $82-billion financial aid and economic stimulus package that require legislation, such as changes to employment benefits for Canadians who are out of work and enhancing the Canada Child Benefit.
These measures are the first in what the government says will be more to come, with the Conference Board of Canada forecasting that the global outbreak could result in the loss of over 330,000 jobs in Canada, should the public health measures remain in place for several months.
There has been considerable talk of cross-aisle collaboration on this bill, prior to its contents being known.
All parties had agreed to a plan to have 32 members in the House on Tuesday, when the bill will be fast-tracked through all stages and sent to the Senate by day’s end. There will be 14 Liberals, 11 Conservatives, three members apiece of the Bloc Quebecois and NDP, and one Green MP.
The government will be flying in some key opposition members from Western Canada to take part in the historic sitting, which is scheduled to begin at noon EDT.
The Senate will then reconvene on Wednesday with a similarly limited roster of senators and staff to scrutinize and pass the bill, and the final step -- a royal assent ceremony -- is expected that day.
“During the recall, steps will be taken to ensure the health and safety of senators and staff involved in Chamber operations,” said the Senate in a statement.
Already in Ottawa, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on the federal government to amend the aid package that will be debated on Tuesday. The New Democrats are proposing to send $2,000 to every Canadian, and $250 for every child, “to give people the help they need now,” saying that some families will come to the end of the month without enough money to pay their bills or rent and that’s “simply not tenable.”
Singh also wants the 10 per cent wage subsidy increased to 75 per cent, calling these suggestions bold measures but proportionate to the situation Canadians are facing.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, who will be in Ottawa for the special sitting, said earlier Monday that he also wants to see the wage subsidy “significantly” increased, among other increases in the support for small businesses and their employees.
In an interview on CTV’s Power Play, Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux, who is the parliamentary secretary to the government house leader, said he anticipates that despite the pushes to go further the “high sense of co-operation” will result in the financial assistance being passed into law “within 24 hours.”
“I think that if we agree that the health and safety of Canadians will be put first and foremost and we recognize that all things need to be on the table, that we will weather this situation through time and things will get better,” he said.
www.ctvnews.ca/politics/draft-emergency-funding-bill-proposes-broad-spending-powers-through-end-of-2021-1.4865204
Draft emergency funding bill proposes broad spending powers through end of 2021
OTTAWA -- The federal Liberals are proposing to grant themselves the power to spend money, borrow, and change taxes without parliamentary approval through to Dec. 31, 2021, according to a draft copy of legislation the government is expected to table Tuesday as it passes COVID-19 emergency economic measures.
According to a copy of the bill obtained by CTV News, it would -- if passed as worded -- allow the cabinet “temporary” powers related to borrowing fund and imposing and repealing taxes as well as increasing or decreasing a tax rate by regulation, without seeking parliamentary approval, “before 2022.”
The bill summary states that this measure is “as part of the response to COVID-19,” but would, if passed as drafted, allow money to flow without MPs scrutinizing it for a period of time considerably extended beyond current estimates of when Canadian society may return to some sense of normalcy, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to making the needed legislative changes to implement the promised financial assistance measures for Canadians and businesses, the “advance copy” proposes to create a new “Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act” which would grant Finance Minister Bill Morneau the ability to spend “all money required to do anything, including making payments to provinces and territories,” in relation to public health events of national concern.
The Liberals are suggesting the bill be cited as the “COVID-19 Emergency Response Act.” The draft version spans 44 pages and includes 20 sections.
Among the other acts it makes amendments to— largely related to measures committed by Trudeau and Morneau last week—include the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act; the Export Development Act; the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act; the Canada Labour Code; and the Patent Act.
The special bill has been put on notice by Finance Minister Bill Morneau, and it is the only item of business on Tuesday’s agenda.
Copies of the bill were provided to members of the opposition under embargo until it is tabled in the House of Commons.
Asked to comment on the contents of the leaked bill, Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez’s office told CTVNews.ca: “We can’t comment on the contents of a bill before it is introduced in the House of Commons. All parties are working together collaboratively to ensure Canadians get rapid access to the financial measures they need.”
It is possible that ongoing backroom negotiations will result in the bill being amended before it is presented.
Outrage over what some are viewing as a legislative overreach amid a global pandemic could push the Liberals to change the wording given the urgent need of many Canadians to see the fiscal measures within it passed as soon as possible. In a minority parliament the Liberals will be required to get the backing of at least one other major opposition party to see this spending measure passed.
On Sunday, Trudeau announced that the House of Commons will resume for a special hours-long sitting to pass the aspects of the $82-billion financial aid and economic stimulus package that require legislation, such as changes to employment benefits for Canadians who are out of work and enhancing the Canada Child Benefit.
These measures are the first in what the government says will be more to come, with the Conference Board of Canada forecasting that the global outbreak could result in the loss of over 330,000 jobs in Canada, should the public health measures remain in place for several months.
There has been considerable talk of cross-aisle collaboration on this bill, prior to its contents being known.
All parties had agreed to a plan to have 32 members in the House on Tuesday, when the bill will be fast-tracked through all stages and sent to the Senate by day’s end. There will be 14 Liberals, 11 Conservatives, three members apiece of the Bloc Quebecois and NDP, and one Green MP.
The government will be flying in some key opposition members from Western Canada to take part in the historic sitting, which is scheduled to begin at noon EDT.
The Senate will then reconvene on Wednesday with a similarly limited roster of senators and staff to scrutinize and pass the bill, and the final step -- a royal assent ceremony -- is expected that day.
“During the recall, steps will be taken to ensure the health and safety of senators and staff involved in Chamber operations,” said the Senate in a statement.
Already in Ottawa, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on the federal government to amend the aid package that will be debated on Tuesday. The New Democrats are proposing to send $2,000 to every Canadian, and $250 for every child, “to give people the help they need now,” saying that some families will come to the end of the month without enough money to pay their bills or rent and that’s “simply not tenable.”
Singh also wants the 10 per cent wage subsidy increased to 75 per cent, calling these suggestions bold measures but proportionate to the situation Canadians are facing.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, who will be in Ottawa for the special sitting, said earlier Monday that he also wants to see the wage subsidy “significantly” increased, among other increases in the support for small businesses and their employees.
In an interview on CTV’s Power Play, Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux, who is the parliamentary secretary to the government house leader, said he anticipates that despite the pushes to go further the “high sense of co-operation” will result in the financial assistance being passed into law “within 24 hours.”
“I think that if we agree that the health and safety of Canadians will be put first and foremost and we recognize that all things need to be on the table, that we will weather this situation through time and things will get better,” he said.
www.ctvnews.ca/politics/draft-emergency-funding-bill-proposes-broad-spending-powers-through-end-of-2021-1.4865204
