'Common sense' gun licencing bill back in the Commons spotlight

The government appears ready to revive its bid to bring "common sense" to the federal firearms law when the House opens for business this afternoon.

Bill C-42, which was introduced amid much fanfare last fall, was initially slated to start second reading on October 22, but was subsequently shelved until November, when it garnered just one day of debate before seemingly falling off the legislative agenda entirely.

• Firearms bill amendments to cut 'red tape' unveiled in the House
• Conservatives' gun bill, C-42, fails to impress gun owners

Four months later, the bill has apparently made it back onto the Conservative priority list, as the government has already served notice of their intention to cut off debate in order to send it to committee for further consideration.

Last week, the National Firearms Association abruptly backed out of a scheduled appearance before the House public safety committee, during which the group had been expected to voice its concerns over the privacy implications of C-51, the proposed anti-terror bill.

The move sparked questions over a possible link between the decision to pull out of the hearings and the then seemingly dormant bill to loosen licence requirements and other firearms regulations.

• Bill C-51 hearings: National Firearms Association pulls out
• National Firearms Association ignoring questions about C-51, members complain

Before that gets underway, however, MPs are set to retreat behind closed doors for the traditional Wednesday morning caucus confabs, with both opposition party leaders expected to make themselves available to the media after their respective meetings wrap up.

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Meanwhile, the Senate Liberals will once again open the caucus room doors to the media and the public as they wade into the issues surrounding "youth engagement in the political process" with the assistance of a panel of guest speakers that will include former Elections Canada CEO Jean-Pierre Kingsley, Apathy is Boring founder Ilona Doughery, Leadnow eastern organizer Katelynn Northam and Queen's University students Lucia Guerrero and Kristen Olver.

They will also almost certainly face questions about the latest developments in the suddenly resurgent Senate expense controversy, including the upcoming trial of suspended Upper House colleague Mike Duffy, which begins next week, and new details of the ongoing RCMP investigation into Senator Pamela Wallin.

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Later this evening, the House will pass judgement on several private members' bills, including Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's efforts to update Canada's access to information regime and open up the secretive all-party Board of Internal Economy and New Democrat finance critic Nathan Cullen's proposal to ban oil tanker transport from the Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound, both of which are expected to be defeated.

Despite that seeming inevitability, Cullen is slated to share his thoughts on the upcoming vote with reporters during a pre-question period press conference.

On the committee front:

Conservative Senator Thanh Hai Ngo appears before Canadian Heritage to outline his proposal to create "Journey to Freedom Day" to mark the exodus of Vietnamese refugees to Canada following the fall of Saigon and the Vietnam War, with the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council, the Vietnamese Association Toronto, the Montreal wing of the Vietnamese Community of Canada and the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Association expected to share their thoughts on the bill as well.

This morning, Canadian Vietnamese Association representatives hit the Centre Block press theatre to expand on their opposition to what they describe as a "hate-inducing and job-killing" bill, which, they aver, was introduced by "a former supporter of the Saigon regime."

Outside the precinct:

• Health Minister Rona Ambrose teams up with Minister of State for Sport Bal Gosal for an appearance at Ottawa City Hall, where the pair will take part in the launch of the FIFA Women's World Cup Trophy Tour.
• Finally, Minister of State for Tourism Max Bernier heads to Vancouver, where, alongside his provincial counterpart Naomi Yamamoto and Canadian Tourism Commission president David Goldstein, he will unveil the latest national travel statistics and "provide a look ahead at 2015."

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