Liberals put assisted-suicide in the Commons spotlight - Action News
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Liberals put assisted-suicide in the Commons spotlight

When the Chamber opens for business this morning, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will present his party's proposal to set up a special committee to study the landmark ruling on physician-assisted suicide handed down by the Supreme Court earlier this month.

Also today: Budget watchdog issues new report on Tax Free Savings Accounts

Centre Block's Peace Tower is shown through the gates of Parliament Hill. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

When the Chamber opens for business this morning, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will present his party's proposal to set up a special committee to study the landmark ruling on physician-assisted suicide handed down by the Supreme Court earlier this month and ultimately, report back to the House with recommendations on how the government should proceed.

As the government or, at least, a spokeswoman for Justice Minister Peter MacKay has made it clear that Conservative MPs will oppose the plan, the Liberal initiative seems doomed before the debate even gets underway unless, that is, a dozen or so backbench (or, alternately, front bench) government members vote with the opposition.

Later tonight, Defence Minister Jason Kenney will kick off a special take-note debate on the rise of anti-Semitism, which will get underway at 6:30 pm ET.

Also this morning: the Parliamentary Budget Office releases a new study on the Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), which is also the subject of a new report from the Broadbent Institute.

Elsewhere in the precinct, a group of Canadian chiropractors take the stage at the Centre Block press theatre to push for "better care for Canada's veterans and military."

On the committee front:

  • Finance continues to explore the pros and cons of establishing a renminbi trading centre in Canada, with Canadian Council of Chief Executives senior associate Brian Kingston, Finance Montreal director Eric Lemieux and, by video, Toronto Financial Services Alliance CEO Janet Ecker expected to testify today.
  • Over at Public Safety, MPs will convene behind closed doors for a quick confab on upcoming committee business including, presumably, the review of the proposed anti-terror bill, which passed second reading on Monday night, and is now at the top of the committee to-do list before switching to an open format to hear more about employment and skills training for offenders.
  • This afternoon, Human Resources will hear from LIFT Philanthropy Partners, the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the Trico Group and the Ontario Nonprofit as members "explore the potential of social finance in Canada."
  • Also today: Fisheries and Oceans will be briefed on the state of Canada's recreational fisheries, Veterans Affairs members get a report on the Canadian Armed Forces' participation in the Nijmegan March and Natural Resources investigates the "renewal" of the Canadian forest industry.

Outside the precinct, delegates at the annual meeting of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture will hear from both Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Liberal MP Ralph Goodale

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