Question Period Notes
About this information
In accordance with the Access to Information Act, the government proactively publishes the package of question period notes that were prepared by a government institution for the minister and that were in use on the last sitting day in June and December.
The question period notes may be partially or fully redacted in accordance with the legislation; for example, if the notes contain information related to national security or personal information. (Learn more about exemptions and exclusions.)
If you find a question period note of interest, you may make an access to information request in order to obtain it.
On November 19, 2020, with Telefilm Canada in the midst of a cross-country consultation to revise its "Success Index" - that is, the performance measure that determines which films the federal funding agency supports - the Independent Filmmakers Committee of the Directors Guild of Canada released a "Directors Manifesto" urging massive change in the system. In other media articles, the media is calling on changes at Telefilm Canada to change its focus on movie theatres and adopt a multi-platform approach to reach audiences.
What is ESDC doing to provide income support services to Canadians in the North?
Update on Canada-U.K. negotiations on a transitional trade agreement (the Canada-U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement) that would enter into force when CETA no longer applies to the U.K.
The Merlo Davidson Class Action settlement concerns gender and sexual orientation based harassment and discrimination of women RCMP employees in the workplace. The terms of the settlement agreement provide for the Independent Assessor to draft a report of observations and recommendations in the claims process. The final report was publicly released on November 19, 2020.
Senate Public Bill S-218, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (great apes, elephants and certain other animals) was introduced by Senator Sinclair on November 17th, 2020.
On November 20, the Supreme Court of Canada will issue its decision on the constitutionality of Ontario's sex-offender registry.
Higher rates of poverty among vulnerable groups
Ethiopia is one of the largest recipients of Canadian international development assistance, which continues to achieve results and have a positive impact on the lives of Ethiopians.
• What is Health Canada doing to make Trikafta available to Canadians with cystic fibrosis?
The Canadian portion of the Keystone XL pipeline was approved in March 2010, subject to 22 conditions. Construction on the 1.2 mile cross-border section was completed in spring 2020.
On July 3, 2020, construction officially began in Canada, with 269 kilometers of pipeline to be constructed and commissioned in Alberta over the next three years, supported by loan guarantees and a direct investment by the Government of Alberta.
In March 2019, President Trump issued a Presidential Order authorizing the KXL to cross the Canada-U.S. border. In July 2019, the Indigenous Environmental Network and the North Coast Rivers Alliance brought forward two motions seeking a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order to cease construction of the pipeline on the U.S. side of the border. On October 16, 2020, a U.S. District Court judge in Montana denied the motions. Other lawsuits related to the Endangered Species Act, the Bureau of Land Management federal permits, and other indigenous and environmental challenges are still pending. Construction on the Canadian side is ongoing and not impacted.
President-elect Biden has previously vowed to rescind the Presidential permit for the project.