And they are done! MPs finished voting on the 800-plus proposed amendments to the controversial omnibus budget bill in the fading hours of Thursday night.
After more than 22 hours, the bleary-eyed, sleep-deprived MPs rushed out of Parliament. The Conservatives satisfied their budget bill was untouched. The Opposition knowing they put up a tough procedural protest.
Despite the marathon voting session, the budget bill has not yet passed the House of Commons. It will have its third reading and final vote early next week.
While many MPs would probably like to be sleeping in, it’s a regular Friday in the House of Commons. That means dozens of MPs will report for duty in Ottawa again, although some are already on planes back to their constituencies.
The day starts with the third reading of another Tory legislative priority – copyright modernization. This bill aims, among other things, to change the rights and protections of copyright owners within the realm of the Internet, modify how educators and students can use copyright material, and give photographers the same rights as other creators.
After question period, the MPs left standing will deal with Conservative MP Parm Gill’s private members bill about gang recruitment. The bill is aimed at protecting young people who are at risk of being recruited by criminals. It would make the act of gang recruitment a crime and would give police officers more tools to deal with gangs.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be in Windsor, Ontario where he is expected to announce his government has brokered a deal with Michigan to construct a second bridge linking the Canadian city and Detroit. The Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder and the countries mutual ambassadors will also be there.
The Detroit-Windsor channel is Canada’s busiest commercial land crossing, with about a quarter of Canada-U.S. trade passing over the Ambassador Bridge.
Another prime minister will also be marking a grand opening. Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien will be opening an exhibit at “Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s Museum: Canada’s Place in the World” in Shawinigan, Quebec.
Also in Quebec is NDP leader Tom Mulcair who is meeting with First Nations and community leaders in Val D’Or.
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