Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are able to spend time with your family on this holiday, and that you have significant memories to be thankful for from the past year.
I’m thankful for the responses I’ve received from so many of you about the work I continue to push in Parliament. This past summer, I wrote about the effects that the changes to Canada’s Competition Act – embedded in the omnibus Bill C-59 Fall Economic Statement – would have on anyone doing business in Canada, particularly those that are aiming for better environmental outcomes. As I explained, the Bill will erode freedom of speech (if allowed by Canada’s Courts), lessen competition, weaponize our Competition Tribunal, and cast a chill on business investment in this country. As if we haven’t seen enough of a flight of capital pursuing opportunities outside of Canada.
The bigger issue for Canadians is the role of ‘omnibus’ bills in eliminating what many of us view as democratic process in the construction of Canada’s underlying legal statutes. These bills package too many legislative changes into one process, thereby denying parliamentarians the ability to properly debate the substance of the changes in the bill. Even the committee process – where these amendments are usually examined in detail – is short-circuited with time allocation mechanisms. We end up with legislation where Parliament passes a series of legislative changes where the ‘intent’ is not even discussed. Thus, any future Court ruling on the matter is denied that perspective, which is usually sought.
Many participants responded to my request to submit opinions to the Commissioner, which could be done until September 27. I believe the changes need significant input and parliamentary revisions in order to meet the desired objectives.
MP – Calgary Centre Greg McLean proudly serves the following Communities: Altadore, Alyth, Bankview, Bel-Aire , Bonnybrook, Britannia, Burns Industrial, Chinatown, Cliff Bungalow , Connaught (Beltline), Currie, Downtown East Village, Downtown West End, Eau Claire, Elbow Park, Elboya, Erlton, Garrison Green, Garrison Woods, Highfield, Inglewood, Killarney-Glengarry, Lincoln Park, Lower Mount Royal, Manchester, Manchester Industrial, Marda Loop, Mayfair, Meadowlark Park, Mission, Mount Royal, North Glenmore Park, Parkhill, Ramsay, Richmond-Knob Hill, Rideau Park, River Park, Roxboro, Rutland Park, Scarboro, Scarboro/Sunalta West, Shaganappi, South Calgary, Sunalta, Upper Mount Royal, Victoria Park, Windsor Park
