Liberal MP Frank Baylis leads a full contingent of MPs from all corners of the House to the West Block press theatre to brief reporters on his backbench bid to boost “democratic empowerment” via an omnibus private members’ motion that would make sweeping changes to the current House rules, including new provisions to limit the power of parties to determine which MPs are recognized during question period, enhance committee independence by bolstering the election of chairs and adding new protocols for replacing members, add a parallel debating chamber to allow for more extensive debate of private members’ proposals and end Friday sittings, among other moves.

According to the advisory, the motion — which is expected to hit the House floor before the end of the sitting — would “help foster a more collaborative and responsible environment for all parliamentarians,” and was drafted with input from MPs from all parties, including Conservatives Michael Chong and Scott Reid, New Democrats Daniel Blaikie and Murray Rankin and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, as well as Baylis’ caucus colleagues Scott Simms and David Graham.

ON THE PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA

When the curtain rises on the Commons this morning, MPs will get their first opportunity to comment on the latest iteration of the government’s proposed framework for the protection and preservation of Indigenous languages, which underwent a significant rewrite at committee and is now back before the Chamber for final approval of the new text.

Also on the Chamber agenda today: New Democrat MP Charlie Angus’ bid to create a “national suicide prevention action plan,” which has garnered cross-party support, as demonstrated by listed seconders Conservative MP Arnold Viersen and Liberal MP Nathan Erskine-Smith, and will be the subject of a pre-debate press conference hosted by Angus and his New Democrat colleague Don Davies, along with “suicide expert Jack Hicks,” as part of a final push before it goes to a vote.

ON & AROUND THE HILL

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel offers one of her periodic critiques of what she — or, at least, the notice issued in her name — describes as “Justin Trudeau’s mismanagement of the immigration file,” with her caucus colleague Pierre Paul-Hus also expected to be in attendance.

offers one of her periodic critiques of what she — or, at least, the notice issued in her name — describes as “Justin Trudeau’s mismanagement of the immigration file,” with her caucus colleague Pierre Paul-Hus also expected to be in attendance. Industry representatives from the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada and the Canadian Camping and RV Council call on the government to “continue to aggressively pursue the lift of the steel and aluminum tariffs,” as well as ‘implement a fair taxation regime for campgrounds.”

and the call on the government to “continue to aggressively pursue the lift of the steel and aluminum tariffs,” as well as ‘implement a fair taxation regime for campgrounds.” As part of an organized lobby push that includes one-on-one meeting with MPs, ministers and senators, the Coalition of Canadian Municipalities for Energy Action holds a mid-morning press briefing to outline their shared and individual concerns over the proposed overhaul of the federal environmental assessment process, which is currently under scrutiny at the Senate environment committee.

OUTSIDE THE PRECINCT

Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi takes the stage to deliver a keynote at Good Chemistry 2019, which bills itself as “he premiere conference for those in the Canadian chemistry industry and its extended value chain.”

Finally, the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom holds its traditional lunch to mark World Press Freedom Day, which will include a speech by Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen Adler, whose reporters, the advisory notes, “are facing imprisonment and intimidation from authoritarian governments around the world,” as well as the presentation of this year’s awards for press freedom.

Follow @kady