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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