Bill C-7, which will expand Canada's assisted dying regime, has passed through the Senate and has been granted Royal Assent.
Bill C-24 also became law last week, which will be enhancing EI benefits for workers. This bill will also ensure that international travellers who are quarantining upon returning to Canada will not be eligible for recovery benefits, to ensure that benefits go to people who need it the most.
In the Finance Committee, I continued to question witnesses about Bill C-14, which will implement aspects of our Fall Economic Statement. This bill will introduce immediate support for low- and middle-income families who are entitled to the Canada Child Benefit, ease the financial burden of student debt for 1.4 million Canadians, among other measures to provide assistance to Canadians.
To see all of my work in the House, please visit the House of Commons website.
Laval remains a red zone, which means that all public health guidelines remain in place until further notice with one exception. Given that we sprung forward an hour last week, the government of Quebec has announced that the curfew is now 9:30pm, rather than 8pm. So far, the government has distributed almost 4.8 million doses of vaccines to the provinces and territories, 1.05 million of which to Quebec. 3.88 million have been administered nationally, and Quebec has administered almost 1 million doses. All Quebecers aged 65 or older are now eligible for a vaccination. For more information on the status of the vaccination campaign in Canada, please click here.
March 25th marks the bicentennial of Greek Independence, an important celebration for Greeks in Canada and around the world. Greek Independence Day is a chance to celebrate the contributions Greek language, culture and history. This is also a day to reflect on the strength and resilience of Greece in overcoming almost 400 years of the Ottoman occupation, when their language, religion and culture were brutally repressed.
March is a particularly significant time of year for the Greek community and today, I had the honour of introducing a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons which will recognize the month of March as Hellenic Heritage Month. Hellenic Heritage Month will celebrate our Greek community’s vibrant culture and will give national recognition to the invaluable contributions Greeks have made to Canada’s multicultural society.
While Canadians usually participate in events and parades to mark Greek Independence Day, this year’s celebrations will look a bit different. This week will be full of celebratory events, from virtual parades, to video montages and even a ceremony hosted by the House of Commons Hellenic Republic Parliamentary Friendship Group taking place on March 28th at 1:30 p.m.
I invite you to join me, and the rest of the Greek community, in celebrating this momentous milestone. Happy Greek Independence Day!
Are you looking for a job? The Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be holding a virtual job fair at the end of the month. It's a chance to meet recruiters from all walks of life. Prepare your resume and join us on March 30th and 31st. For more information, click here (website in French only).
We believe that investing in women is key to a robust and inclusive post-pandemic recovery. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to support, uplift and empower women entrepreneurs and workers so they can return to work and don’t get left behind in Canada’s recovery.
We will continue doing everything it takes to ensure women are supported throughout the pandemic and beyond. Because when women succeed – everyone succeeds.
Yesterday was the International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This day is observed annually on the day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid "pass laws" in 1960. Since then, racist laws and practices have been abolished in many countries, and there is an international framework for fighting racism, guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The Convention is now nearing universal ratification, yet still, in all regions, too many individuals, communities and societies suffer from the injustice and stigma that racism brings. Here in Canada, we are not immune to racism. We must stand up together against discrimination and racism, and to promote our values of respect for diversity, inclusion, and openness.
