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A Flurry of Parliamentary Business
Sometime in June, Parliament will recess for the summer break. In the past weeks, there has been a flurry of parliamentary activity, as the government has tried to hurry up passage of key bills.
One of those bills we've been watching is Bill C-60. Among other things, this omnibus bill legislates the amalgamation of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). We expect this bill to pass before the recess.  Together with our long-time coalition partner, Mines Action Canada, we continue to closely monitor Bill S-10 as it winds its way through Parliament. As the draft legislation (intended to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions) sits at second reading in the House of Commons, we wait in anticipation as to whether it will be studied in Committee before summer recess comes in a few weeks. To date,only one speech on Bill S-10 has been made. Given the lengthy list of government priorities--and the number of times the legislation has been put on the House agenda recently, only to be taken off again--it's difficult to know when debate will resume. But since parliamentarians now have extended sitting hours, anything can happen-even in the wee hours of the morning! We will continue to monitor the bill's progress.
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Cluster Munition Petition
A big thank-you to everyone who signed and or solicited signatures for our cluster munition petition. We are very gratified by the response of MCC supporters!
By our count, 65 petitions--all with a minimum of 25 signatures--have been sent by MCC supporters across Canada to Members of Parliament. Likely, additional petitions have been sent, without our knowing of them. As of this writing, several MPs have presented these petitions in the House of Commons.
 Thank-you for joining in this important form of public witness for peace!
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Opportunities:
Ottawa Office Internship
We are once again recruiting for an
for the September-December period.
The intern serves as part of a team that provides expertise and assistance for MCC Canada's advocacy efforts. Interns are expected to have skills in research and communication and possess a university degree. Click here for a job description and qualifications.  The internship is a great way for young people to learn about how government does and does not work, to meet interesting people, and to explore some key public policy issues. |
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Resources:
Proud to Protect Refugees
June 20 is World Refugee Day. In anticipation of this event, the Canadian Council of Refugees, of which MCC is a member, has launched a new campaign called Proud to Protect Refugees.
 Refugees often get a bad rap in society.
But people who know and work with them recognize that refugees make significant contributions to their families, communities and wider Canadian society. Many of us have a refugee experience in our own family story.
Proud to Protect Refugees aims to help change the conversation about refugees in Canada. It provides tools and information to correct the myths and misunderstandings about refugees and others who seek protection in Canada.
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Quotation
of the Month
"My world has become smaller but my house has become bigger." -- Fhuti Mnisi, South Africa.
Fhuti is a participant in MCC's International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP). She shared these words after participating in MCC Alberta's two-week Planting Peace seminar in May. Read a blog about the seminar.
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Staff Update
Paul Heidebrecht
Director
Late May was conference season for Paul! On May 23-24, he attended the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC) annual forum, and organized a workshop on advocacy for CCIC's emerging leaders. Check out a blog by Sarah Parkinson, one of the workshop participants, to learn more.
On May 27-28, Paul attended a conference at McGill University in Montreal titled: Bridging the Secular Divide: Religion and Canadian Public Discourse. Check out his blog to learn more about some of the questions the conference raises for MCC and advocacy.
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Ottawa Office Newsletter archives
Read previous editions of our newsletter here. |
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