Navigable Waters Protection Act

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1.

 

Senate NWPA Hearings

 

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU

 

As you know, in spite of our efforts, the Senate passed bill C-10 last week, with the undesirable amendments to the NWPA intact.

 

You may also know that many Senators were not entirely comfortable with passing this legislation without giving it proper consideration, but in the end pressure was applied to speed it through so that the financial package could be delivered.

 

The Senate is planning to continue with hearings on the NWPA amendments, even though the bill has passed. We don't know what may be achieved by this but we think this is important. It will at least provide a public forum for the review of the NWPA changes.

 

We expect these hearings to start soon.

 

WE NEED TO KNOW

 

Who wants to be heard?

 

If you represent an organization or business interest or association of any kind, anywhere in Canada, that has an interest in or is concerned about the impacts of the amendments to the NWPA...

 

PLEASE EMAIL US YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

 

Organization Name:

 

Organization Details (location, interest, number of members, brief description of business

interest)

 

Your Name (and position in the organization if applicable):

 

Contact Information (email, phone)

 

WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE

 

We are trying to get a sense of how many organizations or people across the country might want an opportunity to be heard at the Senate hearings.

 

Your organization or business interest can be national, provincial, regional, or local.

 

In fact you do not need to represent an organization. You can express an interest to be heard as an individual.

 

Please respond to canrivers@sympatico.ca by 8 pm Monday March 23.

 

_______________________________

Canadian Rivers Network

www.ispeakforcanadianrivers.ca

 

NOTE: You are receiving this email because you are on the mailing list of the Canadian Rivers Network. We do not share our mailing list. To be removed from or added to this list please send an email request to canrivers@sympatico.ca

 

 

2. Dear Sir/Madam:

 

Please allow me to update you on the current status of Bill C-10. I appreciate your concern with regards to the passage of the bill and the government’s inclusion in the bill of so many questionable provisions that appear to have little connection with the Budget itself.

 

On March 12th, 2009, the Senate voted to pass Bill C-10 in order to help unemployed Canadians receive five extra weeks of employment insurance benefits. Hidden in the Conservative budget was a retro-active provision which provided for these benefits and which would not have been available to a great many workers and their families had we not acted swiftly to allow the bill to pass when we did.

 

However, your concerns, and the concerns of the thousands of Canadians that have contacted my office, have not gone unnoticed. To address these concerns and properly study all aspects of the bill, Liberal Senators convinced the government to agree to a motion to send the subject matter of Bill C-10 to appropriate committees for further study. Please find attached a copy of this motion.

 

The process we have adopted will allow concerned citizens and organizations to appear before our committees and participate in the review process. I can assure you that the outcome of these proceedings will be taken very seriously. The Leader of the Opposition, Michael Ignatieff, has committed to carefully consider the Senate committee reports and take appropriate legislative action.

 

I wish to thank you once again for taking the time to write to me. I know that the Senate committees would also appreciate hearing from you on the government’s budget implementation legislation.

 

Yours truly,

Joseph A. Day

Senator

 

 

3. MOTION

 

Hello;

 

Thank you for writing to Senator Campbell regarding your concerns with Bill C-10, the Budget Implementation Act. As you may or may not know, the Senate passed Bill C-10 without amendment on Thursday, March 12th.

 

Stephen Harper’s Conservative budget included not only matters relating to the economic situation, but also made amendments to 42 non-budget related acts. While the Liberal caucus does not believe that these amendments are necessary, we passed Bill C-10 in order to ensure that unemployed Canadians would receive five extra weeks of employment insurance benefits. Hidden in the Conservative budget was a two week retro-active provision, which provided for these benefits and which would not have been available to a great many workers and their families had we not acted swiftly to allow the bill to pass when it did.

 

However, in passing the Budget, the Liberal Senate ensured that your concerns would be addressed. We forced a motion stating that each aspect of the Bill would be studied in the appropriate Senate Committee. Individuals and concerned organizations are encouraged to contact that Committee to voice your concerns. Please find attached the motion and contact information for the Senate Committees, as well as the transcripts from the Senate debate on Bill C-10 from Thursday, March 12th.

 

Thank you for your continued concern regarding Bill C-10. I hope that you will be satisfied with the final outcome of the Senate Committee hearings, and I encourage you to contact the appropriate Committee members in their study of the affected pieces of legislation.

 

Yours truly,

 

Megan Bruce

Special Assistant to

Senator Larry W. Campbell

The Senate of Canada

Room 708, Victoria Building

Ottawa, On K1A 0A4

PH: (613) 995-4050

FAX: (613) 995-4056

TOLL FREE (1800) 267-7362

www.liberalsenateforum.ca

Canada's Original Think Tank

 

 

4. Budget Implementation Bill, 2009

 

Motion to Refer Separate Elements of Subject Matter to Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, the Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee, the Human Rights Committee and the National Finance Committee Adopted

 

That, notwithstanding any rules or usual practices, and without affecting any consideration or progress made by the Senate with respect to Bill C-10, the Budget Implementation Act, 2009, the following committees be separately authorized to examine and report on the following elements contained in that bill:

 

a) The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources: those elements dealing with the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Part 7);

b- The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade, and Commerce: those elements dealing with the Competition Act (Part 12);

c) The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights: those elements dealing with equitable compensation (Part 11); and

d) The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance: all other elements of the bill, in particular those dealing with employment insurance; and

That each committee present its final report no later than June 11, 2009.

 

Contact information:

 

- Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment, and Natural Resources: Clerk: Lynn Gordon - 613-991-3620

- Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade, and Commerce: Clerk: Line Gravel - 613-990-6081

- Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights: Clerk: Adam Thompson - 613-990-6160

- Standing Senate Committee on National Finance: Clerk: Adam Thompson - 613-990-6160

 

 

 

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