Guite and Pelletier return to
Parliament Hill
by Romeo St. Martin
[PoliticsWatch Updated 5:10 p.m. June 1, 2007]
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OTTAWA — Remember
the sponsorship scandal?
The ad scam that helped turn a Liberal majority into a
Conservative minority will be making a comeback on Wednesday when
two key players appear before the Commons public accounts
committee.
Members of the committee will be reunited with the man who ran the
sponsorship program in its heyday, Chuck Guite, and Jean
Pelletier, former prime minister Jean Chretien's long-time chief
of staff.
Both men will be on the hot seat as the committee will question them
about discrepancies in the testimony they gave to the committee in
2004 and testimony they later told the Gomery inquiry.
It is believed to be the first time in the history of Parliament that a committee has investigated possible perjury.
For Guite it will mark the third time the public accounts committee
has grilled him about the sponsorship program.
The last time in 2004, Guite's much-anticipated appearance was a
media circus and the former public works bureaucrat didn't
disappoint, making some memorable comments about key Liberal cabinet
ministers who had earlier testified they hardly knew him.
Media circus aside, the committee is serious about possibly making
examples of the two men if they conclude they perjured themselves
during their 2004 appearances.
"I personally believe that we should be sending a clear message to anybody who thinks that they can say whatever they want before the public accounts committee that it will not be
tolerated," Tory MP John Williams said earlier this year
when the committee debated calling witnesses.
The Legislative Update is posted every
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The House will deal with the following next week
Government House Leader Peter Van Loan has called this
week "welcome back from committee week" where the
government will deal with bills that have returned from committee.
The bills are:
Bill C-52, the budget implementation bill
Bill C-35, bail reform (report stage and third reading)
Bill C-23, the Criminal Code amendments
Thursday
Opposition day
____________________
Committee Highlights
Monday
> Commons public accounts committee continues its
investigation of the RCMP pension fund scandal.
> Tony Burman, Editor in Chief CBC News, Current Affairs and Newsworld, CBC Radio and Television, appears before the Commons heritage committee's study on the role of the public broadcaster in the 21st century.
Tuesday
> The official languages committee hears from people affected by
the government's cancellation of the court challenges
program.
Wednesday
> The man who ran the sponsorship program in its heyday, Chuck
Guite, and former prime minister Jean Chretien's former
chief of staff, Jean Pelletier, appear before the Public
Accounts Committee's to explain discrepancies in testimony they gave
to the Gomery inquiry and the committee in 2004.
> Full Schedule
____________________
Bills the Tories have
tabled in this Parliament
C-2 An Act providing for conflict of interest rules, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability
Status: Royal Assent December 12
This is better known the Federal Accountability Act, which a number
of new measures and a massive list of amendments to current laws
aimed at cleaning up government. The bill is the government's No. 1
priority.
C-3 An Act respecting international bridges and tunnels and making a consequential amendment to another Act
Status: Royal Assent February 1, 2007
C-4 An Act to amend An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act
Status: Royal Assent May 11
C-5 An Act respecting the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada and amending certain Acts
Status: Royal Assent December 12
C-6 An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Status: Referred to transport committee November 7
C-7 An Act to amend the National Defence Act
Status: Introduced April 27
C-8 An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the public service of Canada for the financial year ending March 31, 2007
Status: Royal Assent May 11, 2006
C-9 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conditional sentence of imprisonment)
Status: Royal Assent May 31, 2007
C-10 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum penalties for offences involving firearms) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act
Status: Passed in the House May 29, 2007
C-11 An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and the Railway Safety Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Status: Passed in the Senate with amendments May 31, 2007
C-12 An Act to provide for emergency management and to amend and repeal certain Acts
Status: Passed in the House December 11
C-13 An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on May 2, 2006
Status: Royal Assent June 22
This is the budget implementation bill. The bill was
accidentally given unanimous consent in the House on third reading
when none of the opposition parties objected after confusion over
who would speak to the bill.
C-14 An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (adoption)
Status: Referred to citizenship and immigration committee
June 13
This bill makes it easier for parents to obtain citizenship for
children they adopt from overseas.
C-15 An Act to amend the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act
Status: Royal Assent June 22
C-16 An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act
Status: Royal Assent May 3, 2007
C-17 An Act to amend the Judges Act and certain other Acts in relation to courts
Status: Royal Assent December 14
This bill sets salaries for federally-appointed judges at a lower
rate than that recommended by an independent panel. The panel wanted
10.8 per cent increase plus cost of living. The government is
offering 7.25 per cent in the bill plus cost of living.
C-18 An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to DNA identification
Status: Passed in the House March 28, 2007
C-19 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (street racing) and to make a consequential amendment to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act
Status: Royal Assent December 14
This bill toughens punitive measures against convicted street
racers.
C-20 An Act respecting airports, airport authorities and other airport operators and amending the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada Act
Status: Introduced June 15
C-21 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act (non-registration of firearms that are neither prohibited nor restricted)
Status: Introduced June 19
This bill we effectively kill the long-arm registry.
C-22 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (age of protection) and to make consequential amendments to the Criminal Records Act
Status: Passed in the House May 4, 2007
C-23 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal procedure, language of the accused, sentencing and other amendments)
Status: Referred to the Justice committee October 16
C-24 An Act to impose a charge on the export of certain softwood lumber products to the United States and a charge on refunds of certain duty deposits paid to the United States, to authorize certain payments, to amend the Export and Import Permits Act and to amend other Acts as a consequence
Status: Royal Assent December 14
This is the implementation legislation for the softwood lumber deal
with the U.S.
C-25 An Act to amend the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and the Income Tax Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act
Status: Royal Assent December 14
This bill toughens money laundering and terror financing laws and
would give the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
the power to monitor money wiring and travellers cheques
services.
C-26 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate)
Status: Royal Assent, May 3, 2007
C-27 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (dangerous offenders and recognizance to keep the peace)
Status: Sent to special legislative committee, May 4, 2007
This bill places the onus on three time sexual and violent offenders
to prove to the Crown they are not deserving of dangerous offender
status.
C-28 A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on May 2, 2006
Status: Royal Assent February 21, 2007
C-29 An Act to amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act
Status: Second Reading May 29, 2007
C-30 An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Energy Efficiency Act and the Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Standards Act (Canada's Clean Air Act)
Status: Returned from the special legislative committee with
amendments on March 30, 2007.
C-31 An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Public Service Employment Act
Status: Passed in the House February 20, 2007
This bill will require voters to present photo ID at polling
stations.
C-32 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (impaired driving) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Status: Referred to the justice committee February 6, 2007
This bill will impose penalties for those convicted of driving under
the influence of drugs
C-33 An Act to amend the Income Tax Act, including amendments in relation to foreign investment entities and non-resident trusts, and to provide for the bijural expression of the provisions of that Act
Status: Referred to finance committee May 14, 2007
C-34 An Act to provide for jurisdiction over education on First Nation lands in British Columbia
Status: Royal Assent December 12
C-35 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (reverse onus in bail hearings for firearm-related offences)
Status: Returned from special legislative committee, May 30, 2007
This bill requires those charged with gun crimes
prove why they should be granted bail before trial.
C-36 An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act
Status: Royal Assent May 3, 2007
C-37 An Act to amend the law governing financial institutions and to provide for related and consequential matters
Status: Royal Assent March 29, 2007
This bill, among other things, lowers the legal minimum mortgage
downpayment consumers have to make on a home.
C-38 An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2007 (Appropriation Act No. 2, 2006-2007)
Status: Royal Assent December 12
Main estimates
C-39 An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2007 (Appropriation Act No. 3, 2006-2007)
Status: Royal Assent December 12
Supplementary estimates
C-40 An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act, the Excise Act, 2001 and the Air Travellers Security Charge Act and to make related amendments to other Acts
Status: Passed in the House May 15, 2007
C-41 An Act to amend the Competition Act
Status: Second Reading February 27
C-42 An Act to amend the Quarantine Act
Status: Referred to the Health committee March 29
C-43 An Act to provide for consultations with electors on their preferences for appointments to the Senate
Status: Second reading May 7, 2007
This bill will allow for Elections Canada to hold votes to select
candidates to fill Senate vacancies in province-wide races.
C-44 An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act
Status: Sent to aboriginal affairs committee
February 21, 2007
This law will remove a controversial section of the act that
provides an exemption for aboriginal Canadians.
C-45 An Act respecting the sustainable development of Canada's seacoast and inland fisheries
Status: Second Reading May 29, 2007
C-46 — The Minister of Labour — An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of railway operations
Status: Royal Assent April 18, 2007
This bill was designed to end the labour dispute at CN Rail.
C-47 The Minister of Industry — An Act respecting the protection of marks related to the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games and protection against certain misleading business associations and making a related amendment to the Trade-marks Act
Status: Referred to industry committee May 17, 2007
C-48 — The Minister of Justice — An Act to amend the Criminal
Code in order to implement the United Nations Convention against
Corruption
Royal Assent May 31, 2007
C-49 — The President of the Treasury Board — An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2007 (Appropriation Act No. 4, 2006-2007)
Royal Assent March 29, 2007
C-50 — The President of the Treasury Board — An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2008 (Appropriation Act No. 1, 2007-2008)
Royal Assent March 29, 2007
C-51 — The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development — An Act to give effect to the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement and to make a consequential amendment to another Act
Introduced March 22, 2007
C-52 — The Minister of Finance — An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2007
Returned from finance committee with amendments May 31, 2007
This is the budget implementation bill.
C-53 — The Minister of Foreign Affairs — An Act to implement the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States
(ICSID Convention)
Referred to foreign affairs committee May 15, 2007
C-54 — The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform — An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (accountability with respect to loans)
Referred to procedure and House affairs committee May 28, 2007
C-55 -- The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform — An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (expanded voting opportunities) and to make a consequential amendment to the Referendum Act
Second Reading May 31, 2007
C-56 — The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform — An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Democratic representation)
Introduced May 11, 2007
C-57 — The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration — An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act C-57
Introduced May 16, 2007
This is the so-called foreign stripper ban bill.
C-58 — The Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities — An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (railway transportation)
Introduced May 30, 2007
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