Trudeau, first ministers, scientists to gather November 23 to talk climate change

Since the Liberals have disposed of an “industry” minister, the minister responsible will be Navdeep Bains, given the title of minister of innovation, science and economic development in Trudeau’s cabinet.

Trudeau says he believes a free and independent press is an essential part of a strong democracy. The government’s agenda will be “further articulated” in the December 4 Throne Speech.

It is a first for the federal government, and included a signal that the ministers will be held to a higher ethical standard, with the caution that “the arrangement of your private affairs should bear the closest public scrutiny”.

With the chief executive of Embraer Commercial Aviation expressing “concern” earlier in the week about the $1 billion bailout and a Brazilian official suggesting it could be a subsidy that runs afoul of Canada’s WTO commitments, Trudeau was asked Thursday whether the prospect of a renewed battle with Brazil at the WTO over aerospace subsidies – as occurred in the 1990s and early 2000s – might influence the federal decision.

“As minister of democratic institutions, your overarching goal will be to strengthen the openness and fairness of Canada’s public institutions”, the letter reads. “You will lead on electoral and Senate reform to restore Canadians trust and participation in our democratic process”.

“We are having a climate briefing by top scientists for the first ministers and for my own cabinet, to be followed by a working dinner with the premiers to exactly discuss the kind of strong and cohesive message we will be delivering as Canadians in Paris at the very important COP21 conference”, Trudeau said Thursday at his second briefing of the parliamentary media in as many weeks.

Goodale also must create an office of community outreach to be headed by a counter-radicalization coordinator, and repeal “some elements of Bill C-42, a Conservative government firearms law that relaxed certain firearms classification and transport controls”.

– How soon will the Liberals begin to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, as promised in their election platform “over the medium term”. But there are no specific details about which aspects of the controversial bill will be eliminated.

“When it comes to taking climate action, B.C. has a lot to offer”, she said.

– Will the Liberals set a national floor price on carbon and, if so, what will it be and how would it be enforced?