In the news today: MPs returning, but it’s hardly business as usual

By The Canadian Press on October 21, 2024.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises to vote against an opposition motion on confidence in the government following Question Period, Wednesday, September 25, 2024 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

MPs returning, but it’s hardly business as usual

The House of Commons returns today from a week-long break, but it’s unlikely to be business as usual.

Members of Parliament are slated to resume debating a Conservative demand for documents about federal spending on green technology projects.

The matter of privilege has all but paralyzed House business as the Liberals try to maintain a grip on an increasingly fractious minority Parliament.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to face the most serious challenge to his leadership to date.

Several media reports have detailed the plans of a group of Liberal MPs to confront Trudeau at the party’s Wednesday caucus meeting over sagging poll numbers and gloomy electoral prospects.

The precise strategy and breadth of the attempt to push Trudeau to resign remain unclear, though some MPs who spoke to The Canadian Press on background said the number of members involved is significant.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

It’s election day for New Brunswick residents

New Brunswick’s residents will be casting their votes today in what polls suggest is a tight election centred on two leaders with sharply contrasting visions for the province.

Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs is seeking a third term as premier.

The former oil executive presented voters with a two-page platform containing 11 promises, including a pledge to cut the harmonized sales tax by two percentage points from 15 per cent to 13 per cent.

The Liberals led by Susan Holt have made 100 campaign promises, such as opening 30 community health clinics across the province by 2028 and eliminating the provincial sales tax on electricity bills for residential customers.

New Brunswickers can cast their votes at polling stations throughout the province between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. today.

Recounts set for Oct. 26-28 in B.C.’s election

The final results of British Columbia’s weekend election won’t be known until at least next week.

Elections BC says official recounts are being held in two tight ridings where the difference between the New Democrat and B.C. Conservatives candidates is less than 100 votes.

The NDP candidates hold slim leads in both the Surrey City Centre and Juan de Fuca-Malahat ridings, and the results could determine who forms government.

Elections BC says it will also be counting about 49,000 absentee and mail-in ballots.

The election’s initial results have the NDP leading or elected in 46 ridings, with the B.C. Conservatives leading or elected in 45 ridings, with the Green Party electing two members.

High-wage foreign workers to get more expensive

The federal government is expected to boost the minimum hourly wage that must be paid to temporary foreign workers in the high-wage stream as a way to encourage employers to hire more Canadian staff.

Under the current program’s high-wage labour market impact assessment (LMIA) stream, an employer must pay at least the median income in their province to qualify for a permit. A government official, who The Canadian Press is not naming because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the change, said Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault will announce Tuesday that the threshold will increase to 20 per cent above the provincial median hourly wage.

The change is scheduled to come into force on Nov. 8.

As with previous changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program, the government’s goal is to encourage employers to hire more Canadian workers. The Liberal government has faced criticism for increasing the number of temporary residents allowed into Canada, which many have linked to housing shortages and a higher cost of living.

The program has also come under fire for allegations of mistreatment of workers.

Ontario legislature back with flurry of activity

Ontario’s provincial parliament will be a hive of activity today, as the legislature resumes sitting following a 19-week summer break.

The first day back promises to be a busy one, with Energy Minister Stephen Lecce and Housing Minister Paul Calandra making an 8:30 a.m. announcement, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria introducing a bill aimed at tackling gridlock and advocacy groups planning protests.

Sarkaria has announced that his bill will include facilitating construction 24 hours a day, accelerating property acquisitions and an environmental assessment for Highway 413 and requiring municipalities to ask the province for permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a lane of vehicle traffic.

Lecce’s announcement follows his pledge last week to soon release his vision for how to significantly boost electricity supply in the province, after the Independent Electricity System Operator said demand will surge by 75 per cent between now and 2050.

Opposition parties say some of Premier Doug Ford’s recent remarks and announcements, such as the idea to dig a tunnel for traffic and transit under Highway 401, are evidence he is focused more on electioneering than governing.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.