A private member’s bill from MP Richard Cannings to promote the use of wood in government buildings passed its final vote in the House of Commons last Wednesday.
The same night, the South Okanagan-West Kootenay (SOWK) federal Member of Parliament was also presented with the Forest Community Champion Award by the Forest Products Association of Canada for his work on Bill C-354 and for his support of Canada’s forest industry.
Cannings noted that he received support from MPs of all parties for his bill, which would require the federal government to consider the use of wood in federal infrastructure projects, taking into account the associated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by using wood products.
The bill must still go through a similar process in the Senate before it can be passed into law. Cannings doesn’t know when the Upper Chamber will begin debate on his bill.
MPs normally only get one shot in each Parliament to have a private member’s bill or motion come to a vote. Cannings chose this one, because forestry is an important industry in other parts of SOWK.
Only rarely do private members’ bills complete the journey through both the House of Commons and the Senate to become law.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Osoyoos Times
