February 19, 2007

Bill C-257 Update

Bill C-257 is still at the Parliamentary Committee stage. The Committee that has been dealing with the Bill is the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities of the House of Commons (HUMA for short).

The week of February 8, 2007, was the last day for witnesses to present before the Committee and once again, the number of employer and business representatives far exceeded the number of presentations by unions representing working people. Technical briefings took place February 13, 2007, and the Committee moved to clause-by-clause debate on February 14 -15, 2007. The Bill is now with the Clerk's office where the Report will be drafted and then the Bill will make its way back to the House of Commons.

The Report needs to be back in the House of Commons for two (2) hours of debate before the vote can take place (one hour of debate, break, and then a second hour of debate). The CLC is working with the Bloc and NDP to move Bill 257 up the schedule of private members' bills. It is not expected that the Bill will be back in the House before mid-end of March at best.

In the meantime, PSAC members are encouraged to continue meeting, calling, and writing their MPs to ensure there is support for the Bill once it comes back to the House of Commons for the final vote.

More details will be posted as available.
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