Weekly Forecast
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Ottawa Weekly Update for December 7, 2009 www.dailypublinet.ca 1 of 117 Table of Contents Weekly Forecast Weekly Calendar Legislation Summary Legislation Status Parliamentary Committee Weekly Status Reports Parliamentary Committee Schedule Press Release Summary - Federal Press Release Summary - Non-Governmental Recent Lobbyist Registration Activity Recent Lobbyist Communications Reports Weekly Forecast Monday, December 7, 2009 (Back to the top) HARPER HEADS TO COPENHAGEN Prime Minister Stephen Harper has caved to internal and international pressure. He has backtracked on a previous decision and will head to Copenhagen, Denmark this week to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference from December 7 to 18. Harper had previously announced he would not be attending the conference, but did an about face after the participation of United States President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was confirmed. Canada's Governor General will also be out of the country. She remains abroad this week after conducting a state visit to Mexico last week. Michaëlle Jean will visit Guatemala and Costa Rica from December 9 to 12 and 12 to 15, respectively. She will be accompanied by a small delegation of Canadians representing a variety of sectors including governance, arts and culture as well as civic and youth engagement. Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) Peter Kent will also travel with Jean to Guatemala. Back on Parliament Hill, MPs may continue to deal with Government Order Number 8. The motion sets out a timetable for debate for the newly introduced Bill C-62, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act. A Ways and Means Motion regarding the bill was passed last week. Tuesday, December 8 will also be the final allotted day of the current supply period. Ottawa Weekly Update for December 7, 2009 www.dailypublinet.ca 2 of 117 Weekly Calendar Monday, December 7, 2009 (Back to the top) Note: New items are marked in blue. THIS WEEK December 7 - Ottawa, ON - Join guest speaker Nancy Anthony Hughes, Canadian Bankers Association, for a talk on "Canada’s Banks - Turning Global Respect Today into Long-Term Success Tomorrow." Presented by the Economic Club of Canada (11:45 a.m., Chateau Laurier). Call 1-877-306- 0899. Ottawa, ON: "Lessons from the past, directions for the future. Looking back on the last six years, looking ahead for next six." Four speakers reflect on the past, present and future of the conservative movement in Canada (6 p.m., Parliament Pub). Ottawa, ON: Widows on a Warpath, a group of Military/Civilian widows, based in Oromocto, New Brunswick, will appear before the Standing Committee on Veteran's Affairs. Seven widows will be present, four will do short presentations on problems we have with VAC concerning the tragedy of the spraying of Agent Orange and other chemicals at and near Base Gagetown. The group will meet with the media folllowing its apperance before the committee (10:30 a.m., Room 130-S, Centre Block). Call 506-446-5195. Ottawa, ON: Nancy Hughes Anthony, President and CEO of the Canadian Bankers Association, will address the Economic Club Of Canada (11:45 a.m., Chateau Laurier). Call 416-362-6093 ext. 220. Ottawa, ON: Liberal MP Scott Brison will hold a non-partisan international trade conference. Joe Clark and Lucien Bradet, President of the Canadian Council on Africa will give keynote addresses (12 p.m., Room 200, West Block). Call 613-995-8231. • A Roundtable on Canada-U.S. Relations will be held (10:05 a.m., Room 200, West Block). Call 613-995-8231. • A Canada-China Roundtable will be held (1:30 p.m., Room 200, West Block). Call 613-995- 8231. • A Canada-India Roundtable will be held (2:45 p.m., Room 200, West Block). Call 613-995- 8231. • A Canada-E.U. Free Trade Negotiations Roundtable will be held (4:15 p.m., Room 200, West Block). Call 613-995-8231 Ottawa, ON: Three prominent Canadians from organizations supporting the KYOTOplus petition campaign will speak at a press conference on behalf of the 152,843 Canadians that have signed the Ottawa Weekly Update for December 7, 2009 www.dailypublinet.ca 3 of 117 petition and 120 organizations calling for a sustainable Canada. The press conference will take place on the same day as the presentation of the KYOTOplus petitions in Copenhagen as part of the over 10 million petition signatures from the Tck Tck Tck campaign being delivered to United Nations representatives (11 a.m., Room 130-S, Centre Block). Call 613-241-4413. Ottawa, ON: Shawn A-in-chut Atleo (National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations), Mary Simon (President of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami), Clément Chartier, (President of the Métis National Council) and Betty Ann Lavallée (National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples) will be on hand to celebrate the release of the Canadian Council on Learning ground-breaking new report that features the first-ever comprehensive look at the state of Aboriginal learning in Canada (10 a.m., Chateau Laurier). Call 1-866-212-4491. Ottawa, ON: British Columbia NDP Leader Carole James and Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will join federal New Democrat Leader Jack Layton for a press conference to express strong opposition to the HST being imposed on families in their respective provinces (9:30 a.m., National Press Theatre). Call 613-720-6463. December 7-18 - Copenhagen, Denmark: The United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held until December 18. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be in attendance. Call 613-957-5555. December 8 - Ottawa, ON: Industry Minister Tony Clement will speak to members of the Canadian Club (12 p.m., Chateau Laurier). Visit www.canadianclubottawa.ca. Ottawa, ON: Liberal Deputy House Leader Marlene Jennings will hold a news conference to discuss her recent motion calling on the Conservative government to hold a full public inquiry for the victims of Agent Orange (11 a.m., National Press Theatre). Call 613-995-0596. Ottawa, ON: The Bank of Canada will announced its decision on the target for the overnight rate. A media lockup will be held (8 a.m., 245 Sparks St.). Call 613-782-8782. Ottawa, ON: Environment Minister Jim Prentice will make an announcement concerning the long- term protections of Lancaster Sound, the eastern entrance of the Northwest Passage (12:15 p.m., 240 McLeod St.). Call 819-994-3023. December 8-10: Ottawa, ON: The Assembly of First Nations, the national political organization representing First Nations in Canada, will convene a Special Chiefs Assembly. The theme for this year’s Assembly will be First Nations Crown Relations. Call 613-241-6789 ext. 210. December 9-12 - Guatemala: Governor General Michaëlle Jean will conduct a state visit. Call 613- 998-7280. December 10 - Halifax, NS: Condoleeza Rice, the 66th U.S. Secretary of State is scheduled for a speaking engagement that will focus on world affairs, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, international trade, and Canada-U.S. relations (3:30 p.m., Cunard Centre). Call 1-888-311-9090. December 11-18 - New Zealand: The Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Ottawa Weekly Update for December 7, 2009 www.dailypublinet.ca 4 of 117 Association travels to New Zealand. December 12-15 - Costa Rica: Governor General Michaëlle Jean will conduct a state visit. Call 613- 998-7280. DECEMBER 2009 December 17-18 - Whitehorse, YT: Provincial and territorial finance ministers meet to receive the report of the Research Working Group on Retirement Income Adequacy. The first meeting of this group was held on July 22, 2009, in Calgary and participants agreed to a work plan, which will culminate in a report to ministers. Call 613-996-7861. JANUARY 2010 January 13 - Ottawa, ON: The Canadian Study of Parliament Group (CSPG) hosts a Parliamentary Business Seminar "Follow the Money: Understanding the Federal Budgetary Cycle." (8:30 a.m., Room 200, West Block). Call 613-995-2937. January 14-16 - Montreal, QC: The Liberal Party of Canada will convene a policy renewal gathering in the form of a "Thinkers" conference. January 15-18 - Ukraine: The Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly will travel to the Ukraine for an Election Observation Mission. January 25-29 - Washington, D.C. and Florida: The Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association travels to Washington, D.C. and Florida for a meeting of the Defence and Security Committee. FEBRUARY 2010 February 9 - The Royal Canadian Mint unveils the 2010 Lucky Loonie in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Ottawa, ON: Shawn Atleo, National Chief, Assembly of First Nations, will speak to members of the Canadian Club at a luncheon (12 p.m., Chateau Laurier). Visit www.canadianclubottawa.ca. February 12 - Vancouver, BC: Governor General Michaëlle Jean will officially open the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Call 613-957-5555. Ottawa Weekly Update for December 7, 2009 www.dailypublinet.ca 5 of 117 February 12-28- Vancouver and Whistler, BC: The Winter Olympic Games are held in the region. MARCH 2010 March 6-13 - Grande Prairie, AB: The 2010 Arctic Winter Games are held. Close to 2,000 athletes, coaches, officials, and cultural performers are expected to participate. Call 819-997-6408. March 12 - Vancouver, BC: Governor General Michaëlle Jean will officially open the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games. Call 613-957-5555. March 12-21 - Vancouver and Whistler, BC: The Winter Paralympic Games take place in the region. March 18 - The Royal Canadian Mint unveils the 25-cent sledge hockey coin in honour of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. March 29-30 - Gatineau, QC: Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon will host the foreign ministers of the G8 countries at a meeting at the Château Cartier.