Sunday, June 3:
- Prime Minister Harper departed for London to take part in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Monday, June 4:
- Justice Minister Rob Nicholson announced the appointment of Donald J. Rennie to the Competition Tribunal, replacing S.J. Simpson.
- Government ministers fanned out across the country to promote proposed changes to environmental oversight and "Responsible Resource Development". The lineup included Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in Toronto; Treasury Board President Tony Clement in Thunder Bay; Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver in Gatineau; Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose in Calgary; Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz in Saskatoon; Industry Minister Christian Paradis in Montreal; Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Keith Ashfield in Halifax; Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development John Duncan in Surrey, B.C.; Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Peter Penashue in St. John's, N.L.; and Minister of State (Democratic Reform) Tim Uppal in Edmonton.
- Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Goodyear addressed the World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Toronto.
Tuesday, June 5:
- Statistics Canada released April 2012 figures for building permits. The total value of permits in April fell to $6.5 billion, a 5.2 per cent decrease after two consecutive months of gains. The decline is mostly attributed to a decrease in construction intentions for institutional buildings and multi-family dwellings in Ontario.
- Industry Minister Christian Paradis addressed the Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto, highlighting the government's efforts to enhance competition and strengthen Canada's digital economy.
- The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met as part of its study of privacy and social media. Witnesses included Warren Everson, senior vice-president of policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce; Annie Pettit, vice-president of the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association; and Brendan Wycks, executive director of the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association.
Wednesday, June 6:
- Prime Minister Harper travelled to Paris for a bilateral meeting with newly elected French President François Hollande.
- The 2010-2011 Departmental Report for the National Research Council of Canada was tabled in the House of Commons.
- Senator Ghislain Maltais announced $13.13 million in funding for the creation of a new research centre called the Platform for Innovation in Organic Agriculture in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Québec. The research centre is being created to develop new knowledge and technologies in the area of organic crop production.
Thursday, June 7:
- The Standing Committee on Finance tabled its tenth report, sending the omnibus budget implementation Bill C-38 back to the House without amendment.
- The Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics released its report on the statutory review of the Lobbying Act. Its recommendations included designating all public servants serving as directors general or higher as public office holders under the act; imposing an explicit ban on the receipt of gifts from lobbyists; retaining the five-year ban; and empowering the lobbying commissioner to impose administrative monetary penalties, and possibly considering temporary bans for breaching the law.
- The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics also tabled its fourth report, condemning the he expenditures incurred by the Old Port of Montréal Corp. on behalf of Claude Benoit, in relation to her visit to Australia and New Zealand in December 2008 and January 2009 as an inappropriate use of government funds and called on the government to further investigate the matter and any other potential misconduct carried out in the corporation.
- Transport Minister Denis Lebel and Heritage Minister James Moore announced funding to Les FrancoFolies de Montréal festival. The $602,000 in non-repayable funding comes from the Canada Economic Development's Community Diversification program.
- Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver announced the appointment of James Ballem as a temporary member of the National Energy Board. Mr. Ballem has served as as Minister of Health and Social Services in PEI as well as serving as PEI's Attorney General and Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry.
- Public Safety Minister Vic Toews spoke to the Economic Club of Canada in Ottawa, highlighting the government's efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal corrections system.
- Mike Lake, parliamentary secretary to the minister of industry, addressed the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association Annual Conference and Exhibition in Windsor. Mr. Lake emphasized the importance of innovation for growth in the sector.
- The Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology met as part of its study of the Intellectual Property Regime in Canada. Witnesses included Harry Page, CEO of UBM Techinsights; Chris Tortorice, corporate counsel of Microsoft Canada Inc.; Dale M. Ptycia, senior manager of licensing at Hockey Canada; and Richard Gold, a professor at McGill University's faculty of law.
Friday, June 8:
- Statistics Canada released labour productivity figures for first quarter 2012. Labour productivity of Canadian businesses inched up 0.1 per cent after 0.7 per cent increases in the previous two quarters.
- The Labour Force Survey for May 2012 was also released, with employment levels remaining unchanged after two months of large gains. The unemployment rate stayed at 7.3 per cent.
- Canada posted a trade deficit of $367 million in April 2012 after five consecutive monthly trade surpluses. Merchandise exports fell 1.2 per cent during the month, while imports increased 0.1 per cent.
- Treasury Board Secretary Tony Clement addressed the Kitchener Rotary Club, discussing the government's efforts to create jobs, and reduce red tape.
- The Standing Committee on Finance launched its pre-budget consultation process for the 2013 federal budget.
Eye on the Hill is prepared by Ottawa-based government relations and communications firm Flagship Solutions.
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