February

The CBA expresses concern with broad-based market studies, including the Competition Bureau’s authority to conduct them, their value, strain on resources and burdens on private parties.

The CBA says changes in Budget 2018 to end CRA Administrative positions on health and welfare trusts to instead use employee life and health trust rules under the Income Tax Act should occur as seamlessly as possible.

The CBA comments on pathways to permanent resident status for foreign caregivers.

The CBA asks that previously scheduled hearings at the Immigration Appeal Division of the IRB be considered a date of non-availability of counsel for the Federal Court.

The CBA highlights an inconsistency between federal EI benefits and some provincial and territorial parental leave entitlements, and recommends claimants be clearly informed.

The CBA highlights the negative impact of long delays in processing permanent resident card applications, and recommends measures to reduce the wait and uncertainty.

The CBA urges the government to ratify the third optional protocol of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child establishing procedure to bring complaints about violations directly to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

The CBA urges the federal government to maintain the role of the Immigration and Refugee Board as an independent quasi-judicial tribunal responsible for refugee determination in Canada.

The CBA urges the government to create a National Commissioner for Children and Youth, to protect the rights of Indigenous children in Canada, and to implement the 2012 recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

The CBA recommends amendments to Bill C-58 to improve access to information laws and safeguard solicitor-client privilege and judicial independence.