Prime minister

• On May 16, Prime Minister Trudeau delivered a keynote address at VivaTech, where he emphasized the importance of protecting privacy and countering online hate speech and disinformation.
• The Prime Minister also announced that Canada would be launching a Digital Charter, to guide the creation of a new, transparent, and accountable digital policy.
• The Prime Minister also offered to provide Canadian steel and lumber to support restoration efforts for Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral.
• During the visit, the Prime Minister also held bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prime Minister Erna Solberg of the Kingdom of Norway, as well as the founder of Wikimedia Foundation, Jimmy Wales.

• [3] Being a presentation Private Members bill, there are limited opportunities for this proposal to be debated (and thus to become law).
• Even if it completed its Commons Stages, the Bill would still have to complete its passage through the Lords.
• It effectively has a veto power over this Bill given the proposals time-sensitivity.

What would the No. 5 Bill do?

• 5 Billwould restrict the Prime Ministers discretion about whether and when to seek an extension to the two-year negotiating period under Article 50(3) TEU.
• The day after the day on which this Bill gets Royal Assent, the Prime Minister would have to table a motion.

An amendable, legally binding, motion to seek an Article 50 extension

• Should the Commons approve a resolution for the Prime Minister to seek an extension to Article 50, she would then be required, legally, to seek that extension.
• The Commons would be able, if it wished, to insist that the Prime Minister seeks an extension to a different date from the one she originally proposed.

A role for the Commons if the European Council proposes an alternative date

The Act also provides a further role for the Commons in the event that the European Council does not agree to the Prime Minister’s request but proposes an alternative date. In those circumstances, the Prime Minister would have to seek further Commons approval before agreeing to that revised date and thereby giving effect to it in EU law.

Why does the Bill only let Parliament instruct the Prime Minister to “seek” an extension?

The two-year period under Article 50(3) cannot be extended unilaterally. Even if the UK “requests” an extension, it can only happen by way of a “unanimous decision” of the European Council. Any extension, and any new date of withdrawal, would need to be agreed to by the Governments of all 27 other Member States of the EU.

Library resources on extending Article 50

• The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the Honourable Anne McLellan will serve as a Special Advisor to examine these questions and provide independent recommendations to the Prime Minister by June 30, 2019.
• In particular, Ms. McLellan will assess the structure that has been in place since Confederation, of a single minister holding the positions of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
• Most notably, she served as the Deputy Prime Minister and as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, among other roles.
• Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Anne McLellan will tackle these questions head-on.

• The Prime Minister, Theresa May has given a statement in the House of Commons stating that the 'meaningful vote' scheduled for 11 December will be deferred.
• Following three days of debate the Prime Minister said, that on the issue of the Northern Ireland backstop there remains,
  "widespread and deep concern.
• As a result if we went ahead and held the vote tomorrow the deal would be rejected by a significant margin.
• Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, responded to the Prime Minister's statement,
  It has been evident for weeks that the Prime Minister's deal did not have the confidence of this House, yet she ploughed on regardless reiterating this is the only deal available.