iPolitics AM: Trudeau, Blair to unveil gun-control proposals

As the House of Commons gets ready to resume regular parliamentary programming following last week’s extended constituency break, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will unveil the next phase in his government’s ongoing push to tighten Canada’s gun laws, which, as per multiple media reports, will include a voluntary “buyback program” targeting the “assault-style weapons that were blacklisted last spring.” (10:30 AM)

According to CTV News, the draft legislation — which is expected to be formally presented to MPs this morning, courtesy of Public Safety Minister Bill Blair — “is expected to detail how owners of these firearms can surrender them to police and obtain financial compensation,” although current owners of the newly-prohibited weapons “will still have the option to hang on to them subject to strict conditions on storage” — which, CTV notes, “has riled gun-control advocates who want to see mandatory confiscation of firearms they believe to be military in nature” — and will also include “new measures to curb illegal trafficking and cross-border smuggling of guns.”

As per the official advisory provided by Trudeau’s office, Trudeau will be “virtually joined” by Blair, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Justice Minister David Lametti and Blair’s parliamentary secretary, Joël Lightbound.

The same itinerary notes that Trudeau is also planning on facing off against his cross-aisle adversaries during the opening round of question period, and is booked in for a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Also making the rounds on the Hill media circuit this morning:  Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, who is all but guaranteed to have something to say about the Liberals’ latest moves on gun control during his pre-scheduled press conference — which, it’s worth noting, is currently scheduled to start just as Trudeau goes before the cameras. (10:30 AM)

Later this morning, New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh will hit the stage at the West Block media theatre to outline what the advisory is billing as “the NDP’s plan to get vaccines into Canadians’ arms.” (11 AM)

Meanwhile, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet will hold a pre-sitting media availability to share his party’s concerns over the sale of Air Transat alongside his party’s infrastructure critic Xavier Barsalou-Duval (10 AM), while Green Party Leader Annamie Paul will share her thoughts on both the new gun control initiative and the ongoing vaccine rollout during a midday Zoom appearance. (12 PM)

As part of its newly launched probe into Canada’s domestic vaccine production capacity, House INDUSTRY committee members will hear from a Calgary-based pharmaceutical company currently working on a made-in-Canada COVID-19 vaccine, courtesy of Providence Therapeutics CEO Brad Sorenson, who confirmed last week that he “has been approached by a number of provincial premiers,” as well as the federal government, about their candidate, which began human trials last month. (11 AM)

Also on the witness list: VIDO-Intervac CEO Volker Gerdts, BIOTECanada CEO Andrew Casey and University of Ottawa professor Amir Attaran, an outspoken critic of the government’s COVID response to date.

Later this afternoon, the OFFICIAL LANGUAGES committee will hold another meeting focused on the “challenges” that the pandemic – and specifically, the move to virtual proceedings — has created for parliamentary interpreters, which will include a one-hour session with Liberal MP Steven MacKinnon, who serves as parliamentary secretary to Public Services Minister Anita Anand, as well as senior departmental officials. (6:30 PM)

IN THE CHAMBER

Topping the legislative to-do list today: Freeland’s omnibus bid to implement various COVID-19 support measures outlined in her economic update last fall.

Just before the House rose for the week-long recess, Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez advised his Commons colleagues that it was “absolutely vital” that the bill — which is currently mired at second reading —  be passed as soon as possible.

Under the current minority configuration, however, he won’t able to force an end to the current round of debate without the support of at least one opposition party, which could be tricky to secure.

Also on the House docket today: Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant’s backbench bid to limit the power of the federal government to waive the requirement for public hearings when a proposal to expropriate land is being made “for the purposes of restoring historical natural habitats, or addressing, directly or indirectly, climate variability,” which will begin second reading later this afternoon.

OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson will share his — and his government’s — views on “furthering global climate priorities … strengthening an effective ecosystem [and] increasing international efforts for biodiversity and nature conservation” during a video chat hosted by the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations. (12 PM)

Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau hits the Zoom platform to outline her government’s latest effort to boost “regional development” in Cantons-de-l’Est by “investing in promising projects” with local companies, including Eddynet, Cuisine Idéale Cabinet and ACTIV Foods, with area MP Lyne Bessette also expected to be in virtual attendance for the reveal.  (10 AM)

FRESH FROM iPOLITICS

FEATURED OPINION

Harry Sharma: Leverage societal shifts to make Canada a global leader

HOT OFF THE WIRES

Don’t miss today’s complete legislative brief in GovGuide.ca!