CANADA
of Veterans Affairs, Hon. Erin O’Toole MP introduced Bill C-58, the Support for Veterans and Their Families Act. The Bill would improve the financial support for disabled veterans and their families by ensuring they receive financial support beyond the age of 65. This gap in financial support had been identified by the Veterans Ombudsman to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. Also in late March, Finance Minister Oliver introduced Bill C-57, the Support for Families Act. This would increase child care benefits and introduce a new benefit of $60 per month for children aged 6 to 17 years.
Changes in party standings
On 9 February, Eve Adams MP left the governing Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) caucus to join the Liberal Party. In doing so, she resigned her position as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health. On 31 March, James Lunney
MP left the CPC caucus so that he can speak out in defense of his Christian beliefs. Mr. Lunney, who is not seeking re-election, said that he did not want to entangle the CPC caucus in his decision and that he would continue to vote with the Government.
Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper MP
Cabinet shuffle On 9 February 2015, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper MP announced changes to his cabinet. Hon. Robert Nicholson MP moved from Minister of Defence to become Minister of Foreign Affairs. Hon. Jason Kenney MP moved from Minister of Employment and Social Development to become Minister of National Defence while retaining the position of Minister for Multiculturalism. Hon. Pierre Poilievre MP who was Minister of State (Democratic Reform), became Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform.
Supreme Court ruling on the long gun registry In 1995, following the massacre of 14 women at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, Parliament established a long- gun registry. While seen by some as a way of reducing gun violence, many law-abiding gun owners opposed the registry. In 2012, Parliament passed a law ending the registration of long guns and requiring the destruction of all the data in the registry. Quebec, which wants to set up its own provincial long-gun registry, contested the destruction of the data in court. On 27 March, in a split 5-4
decision, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Quebec has no legal right to the data. Quebec argued that the principle of cooperative federalism prevented the federal government from destroying the data in the registry, which was operated with the involvement of both the federal and provincial governments. The Supreme Court ruled, however, that the principle has no foundation in Canada’s constitutional law. It said the principle of cooperative federalism could not be used to limit the federal government’s legislative authority. In this case, the long-
gun registry is a matter of criminal law, which falls under federal jurisdiction. Therefore, the Supreme Court ruled, Parliament has the constitutional power to require the destruction of the data.
Trial of Senator Duffy On 7 April, the trial of Senator Hon. Mike Duffy began. He is charged with fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to expenses he claimed as a senator. Appointed as a senator for Prince Edward Island, the Crown prosecutor alleged he
committed fraud by, among other things, claiming his primary residence is in Prince Edward Island, when he had been living in Ontario for years. In his defence, Senator
Duffy’s lawyer arged that the Senate’s rules on residency and expenses were unclear. The trial, which was scheduled to end on 19 June, is now expected to last much longer.
Governor General’s term extended On 17 March, Prime Minister Harper announced the two- year extension of the term of Governor General His Excellency the Rt Hon. David Johnston, which was due to end in September 2015. The Governor General’s term is usually five years, but it may be extended. Mr. Johnston was appointed in October 2010 and the extension will allow him to participate in many of the events surrounding the150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017. The extension also means that an experienced Governor General will be in office in October 2015, when the general election is expected to be held.
The Parliamentarian | 2015: Issue Two | 127
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