C-38. Budget legislation riddled with unwelcome surprises. Fifteen years as a parliamentarian haven’t worn away Pat Martin’s rough edges. The Winnipeg New Democrat, a former union organizer, has a well-documented tendency to use intemperate — occasionally profane — language when the government angers him. It happens often. But since Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tabled his 452-page budget implementation bill two weeks ago, Martin has kept his temper in check, using sarcasm — nothing stronger — to express his outage. It took all his self-disciple to stifle his fury when he discovered that the legislation contained a provision abolishing the Fair Wages and Hours of Labour Act.
The 27-year-old law requires federal contractors to pay workers the prevailing wage in the region. “Why, deep down within the bowels of Bill C-38, do we find this little jewel?” He asked. Conservative backbencher Stephen Woodward, a Kitchener lawyer, popped to his feet to answer. Martin let the slight go, bided his time and tried again. But Martin is playing a longer game. Federal Budget Implementation Bill Introduced (C-38) :: Hicks Morley :: On April 26, 2012, the federal government introduced Bill C-38, Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, omnibus legislation intended to give effect to certain key initiatives outlined in its Budget 2012.
Among other matters, Bill C-38 would, if passed, amend Part I of the Canada Labour Code (“Code”) to require each party to a collective agreement to file a copy of the agreement with the Minister of Labour “immediately after it is entered into, renewed or revised,” subject to the regulations, as a condition of its coming into force;amend Part III of the Code to generally require employers that provide benefits to their employees under long-term disability plans to insure those plans.
As an exception, however, a new subsection 239.2(2) would allow for an employer to not insure long-term disability benefits under circumstances and subject to the conditions provided for in the regulations. For more information about legislative developments, please check out our Legislative Blog. 2012 Spring Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.
LEGISinfo - House Government Bill C-38. On May 3, 2012, the following motion was adopted by the Senate: That, in accordance with rule 74(1), the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to examine the subject-matter of all of Bill C-38, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 29, 2012 and other measures, introduced in the House of Commons on April 26, 2012, in advance of the said bill coming before the Senate; That the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance be authorized to sit for the purposes of its study of the subject-matter of Bill C-38 even though the Senate may then be sitting, with the application of rule 95(4) being suspended in relation thereto; and That, in addition, and notwithstanding any normal practice, the following committees be separately authorized to examine the subject-matter of the following elements contained in Bill C-38 in advance of it coming before the Senate:
Www.parl.gc.ca/content/hoc/Bills/411/Government/C-38/C-38_1/C-38_1.PDF.