It sounds like deliberations in the Commons justice committee are going about as well as expected, as they reject dozens of amendments related to the medical assistance in dying bill. It should be noted that they’re rejecting amendments from all sides – both the Conservative ones aimed at introducing further restrictions (which should probably just invoke the Notwithstanding Clause along with them because of how they further impede the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Carter), and those NDP, Bloc and Green amendments that would make the legislation more permissive, and it sounds like only a couple of minor amendments have been accepted – one Liberal, one Conservative, both fairly technical. All of this is making be believe that we may be headed for a showdown with the Senate, as it sounds increasingly like they are unhappy with the current state of the bill and have grave concerns that it doesn’t meet the constitutional tests laid out in the Carter decision. This could make for a very interesting few weeks ahead if senators decide to dig in their heels – particularly Senate Liberals, who are likely to very clearly demonstrate their independence from the Liberals in the Commons as they take opposition positions on this government bill. We’ll see how far they’re willing to push it, whether they will amend the bill and send it back to the Commons, and if the government decides to push back or not, or accept the judgment of the Senate in its more independent state (as Trudeau has insisted he’s looking to make a reality). More likely, we’ll be subjected to weeks of pundits baying at the moon because how dare the unelected Senate dare to challenge elected MPs even though that’s the whole point of the institution in our constitution. I can hardly wait for that fun to start. Meanwhile, Aaron Wherry looks at how MPs are dealing with this issue in terms of consulting with their constituents for the upcoming free vote, and how their own religious convictions play into it. Of course, MPs always like to say all manner of things about what their constituents say and believe (and it almost always just happens to line up exactly with their party’s talking points, as if by magic), and given how completely spineless most MPs tend to be on tough issues like this, we’ll see how they wind up deciding when the final vote comes down.

Good reads:

• Because it came up over and over again in QP, Trudeau’s mother and in-laws, and the Liberal Party president and fundraiser were all Obama invitees.
• The justice systems in Alberta and BC are reaching crisis levels because no judicial appointments are being made, and won’t be until that system is reformed.
• The government is pledging more money for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and Canada will host a Fund replenishment conference.
• The Conservatives are withdrawing support for the RCMP unionisation bill because it won’t mandate a secret ballot (never mind no other labour laws require one).
• Grassroots Conservative party members will be debating measures to limit their leader’s powers at their upcoming convention.
• There is some debate about the appropriateness of the military allowing some Special Forces members in Iraq appear in media reports.
• MPs talk about how there has been some progress in the fight against sexism on the Hill, but how there remains work to be done.
• Trying to embarrass the government into making genocide declarations without the due process by the International Criminal Court? Sounds responsible, Conservatives.
• Stephen Gordon talks about the long-term damage from the Conservatives’ war on the long-form census.
• Colby Cosh and Jen Gerson give a one-two punch at the state of the right in Alberta, with a PC party that refuses to die and a third party that will lead to civil war.
• Andrew Coyne declares there to be nothing to see with the national anthem debate, and takes the desire for more debate on the bill at face value.

Odds and ends:

The government says thanks but no thanks to international offers for help with the Fort McMurray wildfire.

Here’s a profile of Matt Mendelsohn, the deputy secretary to cabinet in charge of keeping them on track for delivering on promises.