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IAFF Canada Legislative Update

September, 2011

Stage Set for 18th Canadian Legislative Conference

The 1st Session of the 41st Parliament marked a historic shift in party representation. For the first time since 2004, Canada has a majority government as Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party captured 167 of 308 seats in the House of Commons, and the New Democratic Party became the Official Opposition, bolstered by a surge of support in Quebec. The Green Party is now officially represented in the House of Commons with party leader Elizabeth May winning her seat, and the Liberals and Bloc Québécois are now reduced to 34 and 4 seats respectively.

The new House of Commons session began on June 2nd, with the election of Speaker Andrew Scheer and a new budget, introduced on June 6th. Much of the promised spending on programs and tax cuts from the previous March budget remained in the new budget, including a $400-million plan to extend the ecoEnergy tax credit for environmentally friendly home renovations, a $600-a-year increase to the Guaranteed Income Supplement for low-income seniors, and tax credits for volunteer fire fighters and for people caring for sick relatives.

The budget also outlined the government’s aggressive plan to eliminate the $32.3-billion deficit one year earlier to 2014. To comply with their intent, they are required to cut spending by $4-billion a year over the next three years, including significant cutbacks in labour through public sector unions.

Labour became a major topic of deliberation in the House as negotiations between Canada Post and CUPW quickly broke down and a lock out for postal workers was enforced by Canada Post’s management. In addition, Air Canada and CAW were also in contract deliberations. The government intervened by introducing back-to-work legislation amidst much protest from the NDP, labour’s traditional allies.

To voice our concerns, the IAFF Canadian Office wrote to Labour Minister Lisa Raitt, citing our objection to the deliberate intervention of the collective bargaining process, where the government would be tipping the scales in favour of the employer. The government ultimately forged ahead and passed the back-to-work legislation for mail delivery, receiving Royal Assent on June 26. The IAFF will continue to be vigilant in monitoring and defending the rights of our members and fellow brothers and sisters of other unions.

In addition to the back-to-work legislation for postal workers (Bill C-6), four government bills received Royal Assent; Bill C-3, the Budget implementation Act, Bill C-2, the Fair and Efficient Criminal Trials Act, and Bills C-8 and C-9, Treasury Board Appropriation Acts that authorize government spending until 2012.

To date, three Private Members’ Bills and one Motion related to fire fighters have been introduced in the House of Commons. London-Fanshawe NDP MP, Irene Mathyssen, a long-time supporter of fire fighters, introduced Bill C-256 which would amend the Criminal Code of Canada to specify stricter punishments for crimes that harm fire fighters acting in the course of their duties.

Sudbury NDP MP, Glenn Thibeault introduced Bill C-248, calling for the third Sunday in July to be declared Emergency Services Appreciation Day. Similarily, Daryl Kramp, Conservative MP for Prince Edward-Hastings introduced Bill C-228, which would designate the third day of every March a National Appreciation Day for members of the Canadian Forces and emergency response professionals, including police officers, fire fighters and paramedics.

The IAFF Canadian Office thanked and supported the MPs for their respective Private Members’ Bills, allowing IAFF locals to further illustrate their value to their communities while advocating the items on the IAFF’s Canadian legislative agenda. Nine other relevant Motions are on notice, awaiting introduction. The IAFF Canadian Office will continue to track the introduction and debates of bills and motions throughout the session.

The IAFF has also been monitoring government committees. In July, the IAFF made a submission to Health Canada as part of its consultation on planned changes to the rules governing the production of medical marijuana in Canada. The IAFF submission focuses on ensuring the safety of fire fighters responding to emergency calls at such growing facilities.

In August, the IAFF made a submission to the Standing Committee on Finance as part of its annual Pre-budget Consultation exercise. The IAFF submission asked the Committee to recommend funding allotments in the 2012 federal budget for a national Public Safety Officer Compensation (PSOC) benefit and for a second five-year funding period for the IAFF Canadian Haz-Mat and CBRN Training Initiative after the current funding period expires in 2013.

With a majority, the Conservatives do not require opposition support for their initiatives, and they are not susceptible to being defeated on key issues. This means they can remain in power for up to five years without calling an election.

From a political perspective, we currently have a solidified right, and a fractured left, with centre-left support in Canada being divided by the NDP and the Liberals. The next four years will be a critical time where the opposition will work to recapture the electorate’s confidence and support.

With Bob Rae as their interim leader, the Liberals are undergoing a much needed rebuilding process and are planning for their leadership race in 2013.

When Jack Layton took leave as NDP Leader in July, Nycole Turmel, a former president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (a large public sector union) was elected as their interim Opposition Leader. At the time Layton and the party announced that he planned to return as party leader by late September when the House resumed. However, with Layton’s tragic death, the party moves forward with Turmel as interim leader. A leadership convention will take place in Toronto in March, 2012.

The IAFF will turn its focus to the 18th Canadian Legislative Conference. Originally scheduled for the second week of April, the conference will now take place October 23-26 in Ottawa.

The IAFF will benefit from the stability of having a majority government in place. Since 2008, we have established a good working relationship with the Conservatives as the IAFF’s Canadian Haz-Mat and CBRNE Training Initiative was funded by the Conservative government in 2008 in the amount of $2.5 million over five years. Moving forward, we will build on this existing relationship, underscoring its success and will incorporate this accomplishment into our current lobbying initiatives. This will ensure a balanced approach in order to strengthen our relationship with the current government.

In addition to Haz-Mat, the IAFF is also asking the Canadian government for a PSOC benefit, priority access to available vaccines and antivirals during an influenza pandemic, for amendments to the National Building Code of Canada to protect fire fighters and for a national office for fire service statistics.

The House of Commons is currently recessed for the summer and is scheduled to resume on September 19th. The fall will prove to be a busy time, with five provincial elections in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Newfoundland, in addition to the House returning. Our lobby efforts will be scheduled accordingly.

The IAFF is assisting the BCPFFA with a FIRE Ops 101 event to take place Sept. 26 in Vancouver. The event is being held in conjunction with a Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference and in advance of municipal elections, which occur in November.

 

 

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