Today - Aujourd'hui
Justice Reform and persecution of the Uyghurs - February 18, 2021
Scrums, news conferences, committees, conferences – highlights from the working day in Canadian politics. (Public affairs) Federal Justice Minister David Lametti holds a news conference on Parliament Hill to discuss details of the federal government’s new legislation (C-22) aimed at addressing the over-representation of Black Canadians and Indigenous peoples in the criminal justice system. He is joined by ministers Bill Blair (public safety), Bardish Chagger (diversity and inclusion and youth) and Ahmed Hussen (families, children and social development). Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole speaks with reporters on Parliament Hill about his party’s opposition day motion, which is set to be debated in the House of Commons. Conservatives are calling on MPs — and the government — to recognize China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims as a genocide. O’Toole also responds to questions about Senate amendments to the federal government’s medical assistance in dying bill (C-7). He comments as well on the new federal firearms legislation. Green Leader Annamie Paul holds a virtual news conference to speak about China's treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. Her party believes the Chinese government is committing genocide against the Uyghurs and is calling on Canada to impose targeted sanctions against those responsible. At a press conference on Parliament Hill, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves François Blanchet responds to questions on the government's pandemic response, COVID-19 vaccine delays, the medical assistance in dying bill and the persecution of the Uyghurs in China.
