As the government’s window to comply with Quebec’s ultimatum begins to close, the Liberal Party is calling on the Senate to speed up consideration of Quebec’s supply management trade bill.
Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet gave Trudeau’s government a deadline to meet until October 29. list of conditionsincluding the passage of Bill C-282 in exchange for the party’s support in blocking early elections.
The bloc’s private members’ bill would prevent Canadian trade negotiators from giving up further concessions in Canada’s highly protected dairy, egg and poultry sectors. Passed by the House of Representatives in June 2023.
Blanchet also called on the government to pass Bill C-319, which would increase Old Age Security payments by 10 percent for seniors aged 65 to 74.
On October 17, International Trade Minister Mary Ng wrote to Senator Peter Boehm, asking him and his committee to consider expediting consideration of Bill C-282. Try to get to the third reading as quickly as possible.
Following a letter he sent to Boehm on October 9, Mr Ng expressed concern over the fact that the Senate is not expected to consider the bill point by point until the week of November 4.
“We respectfully ask you to reconsider the work plan and are eager for the committee to complete its work as soon as possible,” Ng wrote.
But in a reply sent Oct. 21, Boehm reminded Ng that the Senate does not prioritize private members’ bills passed by the House.
As chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, he acknowledged that the bill would likely be considered clause by clause in the first week of November.
“Despite any negative perceptions, I am confident that this committee is taking its work on Bill C-282 very seriously and will conduct a fair, balanced and timely study of this important legislation. “We have made it clear publicly and privately that we
He also said that until the bloc issued the ultimatum on September 25, the day the committee began considering the bill, Bill C-282 “criticized the current government and the committee, “It didn’t attract people’s attention.”
“While we have great respect for the will of the elected House of Representatives, and indeed our elected colleagues, Senate committees, like the Senate itself, conduct their own business,” he wrote. Ta.
The Liberal Party’s Senate lobbying comes weeks after bloc leaders suggested the legislative process was slow.
meanwhile question time On October 2, Blanchett called the Senate “illegitimate” and accused it of guiding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “under his nose.”
“It’s the senators he appointed that are getting in the way,” Blanchett said, reminding Trudeau that his government is in crisis. “Will he tell them to respect democracy and our choices as elected representatives?”
Prime Minister Trudeau responded that the Senate is “doing its job” and is independent, citing his decision as Liberal leader to remove senators from caucus and the bipartisan effort he initiated to appoint senators. I mentioned the process.
“We will allow democracy to function without interference,” he said. “But we have always been clear: We will protect supply management.”
