Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #SenCa
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Last Friday, I visited Rosy Farms, about 45 minutes northwest of Edmonton, to u-pick haskap berries. What are haskaps? Watch this mini-mini doc to learn all about these "hot" new prairie berries. (Picking season lasts till mid August.) #yeg #yegfood #SenCa #AGFO
My haskaps have all been baked into muffins, churned into homemade ice cream, eaten fresh on cereal, or popped in the freezer. They are a delicate berry, and don't last. But that's OK. You'll want to eat them ASAP anyway. (Sorry, I forgot to share with you all.)
(I shot the video myself, sans tripod. Thank goodness the new iPhone 13 minimizes jiggle. And thank you to @PawanSMinhas of my staff, who transformed my video and photos into this lovely little piece.)
There is so much misinformation floating around about Bill S-233. The discourse is so toxic, I almost hate to weigh in. But in all honesty, I feel I have a duty to address some of the misunderstandings - and disinformation - about this bill. #SenCa parl.ca/DocumentViewer…
The false claim out there is that this is a government bill, now at third reading, which will take away people's rights to various social supports such as OAS, EI, and others, unless they conform to government health and social edicts. That is absolutely untrue.
In the first place, this isn't a goverment bill at all. It's what we in the Senate call a "Senate public bill" - which is the Senatorial parallel to a private member's bill. In this case, it's sponsored by @KPateontheHill, one of our most independent Independent senators.
Good morning! The Senate is back in session, for a second full day of debate on Motion 17, the confirmation of the Emergencies Act. Starting a new thread this morning, as ISG senator David Arnot continues the speech he started yesterday. #SenCa #cdnpoli
The occupation of Ottawa, says Sen Arnot was not protected political protest. It was a well organized, well funded attempt to overthrow the government of Canada #SenCa #cdnpoli
Equally concerning, says Sen. Arnot, where the unpredecented border blockades. This extraordinary event required an extraordinary response, he says.
Hello! This is a NEW THREAD - now that Marc Gold's presentation is over. We are hearing now from Raymonde Saint-Germain, the facilitator (aka leader) of the @ISGSenate is speaking now. She receives 45 minutes in total speaking and question time. #SenCa #cdnpoli
Sen. Saint-Germain begins by speaking movingly about her memories of the FLQ crisis and the impact of the War Measures Act in her province of Quebec. #SenCa #cdnpoli
Sen. Saint-Germain says the Emergencies Act is less drastic than the War Measures Act, and has a requirement for provincial consultation. But she notes that only one premier, Doug Ford of Ontario, has publicly supported its invocation.
First day of debate in the Senate on the Emergencies Act begins now. You can live stream the debate at the link below. #SenCa #cdnpoli
Normally, we would begin with Senate statements and question period. Today, we begin without the usual preambles, and jump straight into debate on the Emergencies Act. Senate Marc Gold, the government representative in the Senate, begins the debate. #SenCa #cdnpoli
Senator Gold is a constitutional lawyer and a constitutional law professor at McGill University. As government representative, he is granted unlimited speaking time - as is Don Plett, the leader of the opposition. The other "group" leaders will be allowed 45 minutes.
A difficult moment in the Senate tonight. ISG Senator Mary Jane McCallum, speaking to Bill C-15, held an eagle feather. Conservative leader Don Plett rose on a point of order, asking the Speaker to decide whether the feather was allowed. Debate ensued.. @ISGSenate #SenCa
The Speaker was compelled to break for dinner moment later, at 6 pm EDT. Debate over whether an Indigenous Senator can hold an eagle feather when they speak will likely be debated more then. The Speaker may rule tonight - or may reserve his decision.
For context: props are not allowed in the Senate. No charts. No T-shirts with slogans. But is an eagle feather a prop? Or more akin to a sacred symbol?
“We’re feeling this grief, coast to coast on Turtle Island,” says Kookum Kathy. “We’re feeling it in the marrow of our bones.” #215children #215CanadaDayOfMourning #yeg #ableg 
Debate begins now on @jeneroux 's Private Members Bill C-220 is beginning now. parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/Pow… #cdnpoli #SenCa #yeg
The report of the committee was adopted unanimously - and third reading begins now, with @jeneroux, the MP for Edmonton-Riverbend. parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/Pow…
Matt Jeneroux begins by thanking Liberal MP @AHousefather for his championship of the bill, and then thanking many MPs from all parties for their support of this bill - which will grant workers under the Canada Labour Code an additional 5 days of bereavement leave. #cdnpoli #yeg
Not all are active on Twitter, but some have great accounts to follow - including @KPateontheHill, @ratnaomi, @CPetitclerc @mivillej @DonnaDasko @SenMarilou @SenJaffer @SenatorBoyer @SenMartyDeacon - and who did I miss? With a list, I fear I always miss someone! @ISGSenate
Major #SenCA news — former government representative @SenHarder is joining the @Prog_Senate. Story coming shortly. #cdnpoli
@SenHarder @Prog_Senate This follows @SenPatBovey's defection from the @ISGSenate to the @Prog_Senate group last week - the ISG no longer holds the monopoly on senators who do not fit comfortably into the old-line party caucuses. #cdnpoli
New — Former government point man Peter Harder joins the Progressive Senate Group. cbc.ca/news/politics/… #cdnpoli
Morneau is up in #SenCA addressing the new legislation - it's been tweaked substantially since the aid package was first announced last week.
The two support benefits have been collapsed into one called the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). This benefit would provide support for up to 16 weeks for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CERB would cover Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care
of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school closures.
of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school closures.
House has unanimously adopted NAFTA implementation legislation; will suspend until April 20. The budget has been delayed - will not happen on March 30 as planned. #cdnpoli
The Senate is meeting today on a non-sitting today - is expected to pass NAFTA and a supply a bill. #SenCA will return on April 22 after dealing with today's government business #cdnpoli
Beyond NAFTA, Senate expected to pass Supplementary Estimates B for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 and the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.
A heated afternoon in the #SenCA chamber over committee composition. There is squabbling over who gets seats on Senate committees, where most of the chamber's sober second thought actually occurs.
ISG Leader Sen. Woo said he wants proportionality for all Senate groups/senators. Conservative Leader Don Plett said that's false - Woo had proposed cutting out the Progressives and the unaffiliated entirely. "It's not often that you're accused of lying," Woo says in return.
Plett has receipts. He quotes from a leaders' meeting in which Woo allegedly proposed only having ISG, Conservatives and CSG members on committees. Woo now says he won't speak about private meetings when confronted with those numbers.
New development on the Beyak beat — "In an about-face, Sen. Lynn Beyak 'unreservedly' apologizes for posting racist letters." CBC.ca/1.5453224 #cdnpoli #SenCA
Speaking in the chamber after question period, Beyak said she was wrong to insist on leaving letters up on her website that describe Indigenous people as lazy and inept and use racial epithets.
"I would like to unreservedly apologize for my actions," she said.
"I would like to unreservedly apologize for my actions," she said.
"They were disrespectful, divisive and unacceptable," Beyak said of the letters. "Regretfully my actions were unhelpful to the national conversation on this issue.
"I see now that my actions did not have their desired effect, which was to promote open and constructive dialogue."
"I see now that my actions did not have their desired effect, which was to promote open and constructive dialogue."
NEW — Lynn Beyak claimed she was Métis at anti-racism training sessions. CBC.ca/1.5450372 #cdnpoli #SenCA
Ontario Sen. Lynn Beyak is again facing suspension from the Red Chamber for failing to complete her anti-racism training — a project that started off on the wrong foot when told her instructors she was Métis because her parents had adopted an Indigenous child.
Ultimately, Beyak didn't make it past the first lesson because her "inflexibility and conduct made the learning environment unsafe," said the trainers' report to the Senate ethics officer. She was asked to leave the premises.
Trudeau has two new deputies in the upper house working alongside gov't representative @SenMarcGold - @SenGagne will be the deputy leader or, as they've styled it, the "legislative leader" and @MetisSenatorPLB will the be the whip or "government liaison." #SenCA
@SenMarcGold @SenGagne @MetisSenatorPLB .@MetisSenatorPLB is the first Indigenous woman to hold a leadership position in the Senate. #cdnpoli
@SenMarcGold @SenGagne @MetisSenatorPLB These folks replace Sen. Peter Harder, Senator Diane Bellemare and Sen. Grant Mitchell as the government representative team, known by a lot of #SenCA watchers as the "G3."
New — Senate committee wants to strip Don Meredith of his 'honourable' title. CBC.ca/1.5391315 #cdnpoli #SenCA
Beyond Meredith, Sen. Joyal said today the ethics committee will have an interim report on Beyak by Jan. 31, 2020. The committee has said she must be complete five steps - including anti-racism training - or else she could be suspended again. BG: cbc.ca/news/politics/… #SenCA
Sen. Joyal is up on this again today. He says clearly Meredith's conduct was "reprehensible and certainly not a model for any senator." Joyal says they cannot impose any more sanctions on him expect stripping him of "honourable" and forbidding him from attending state ceremonies.
NEW | Two more senators defect to upstart group, one citing Scheer's leadership. CBC.ca/1.5363311 #cdnpoli #SenCA
Two more senators are leaving their caucuses to join the upstart Canadian Senators Group, with Conservative Quebec Sen. Jean-Guy Dagenais citing his discontent with leader Andrew Scheer as the reason for his defection.
The other defector, P.E.I. Sen. @PercyDowne, is also joining the CSG — only days after he agreed to disband the Senate Liberal caucus and sit with his former colleagues as a member of the Progressive Senate Group.
New from me — The cost of the Senate has soared in the last five years. cbc.ca/news/politics/… #cdnpoli #SenCA
Another depressing day for openness and transparency in #SenCA. I asked for detailed financial statements of (taxpayer-funded) spending in the upper house - documents that were discussed openly at a televised committee meeting - but they say these aren't "public documents."
I asked for comment from internal economy committee on sizeable (33% in 4 years!) increase in spending at @SenateCA. They referred me to transcripts from meetings held months ago. They declined (!) to comment. The @ISGSenate also declined (!) to comment. @denisebatters did speak.
“It would make any organization look bad that it took four years to resolve this issue,” Sen. Tannas says of Don Meredith’s victims. There still hasn’t been a resolution for people who allegedly suffered sexual harassment at the hands of the former Senator.
Sen. Saint-Germain says it’s completely unacceptable that it’s been six years since the first harassment claim was filed by one of Meredith’s alleged victim and yet there’s still no recognition of wrongdoing by the Senate.
“It’s a shame,” Saint-Germain says. She says money may be in order to compensate victims.
A major #SenCA development today as 11 senators breakaway from the @ISGSenate and @CPCSenatePCC to form an independent conservative-minded Canadian Senators Group. The realignment of the Senate under the Trudeau changes continues apace. #cdnpoli
@ISGSenate @CPCSenatePCC Main takeaway: Small-c conservative senators no longer felt at home in the largely left-leaning "liberal" @ISGSenate - but also didn't have the appetite to join the CPC and sit in a national caucus.
This new group has enough members to form an official group under the Senate rules, which means seats on committee - where much of the actual sober second thought function occurs - and the money to properly staff up.
Good evening #cdnpoli! We're minutes away from results from Newfoundland and Labrador. Buckle up, friends!
I'm keeping an eye on @CPC_HQ results in particular tonight - Newfoundland could be telling. They might not pick up a seat here but if we see a significant bump in Tory vote share it could bode well for the party nationwide.
I was with Scheer for his one and only stop in the province this campaign. He had an event in St. John's East - it was a tepid turnout - but that riding could be one to watch given the traditional strength of @JackHarrisNDP
On this election eve, let's also think about what's at stake for the Senate. Indulge me for a minute. Right now, here are the standings: 58 Independent Senators Group, 29 CPC and 9 Liberal senators. #SenCA
Seven are non-affiliated - including three from the "G3" that represent the Liberal government. There are two vacancies. 8 Conservatives, 6 Liberals, 6 ISG and 1 non-affiliated (Speaker Furey) are due to retire between now and Oct. 2023. That's 21 retirements.
So, in theory, the next prime minister could be responsible for at least (pending death, voluntary retirement, etc.) 23 Senate appointments. If Trudeau wins, and all else is static, 73 of the 105 senators would be those who are part of the ISG or identify as independent.
