Canada’s House of Commons has adjourned for summer, as Members of Parliament prepare for a summer of campaigning ahead of the federal election expected in the fall.
On Friday, MPs wrapped up their work on Parliament Hill, a place that will likely be much quieter in the coming months. Many elected officials are returning to their ridings to start campaigning in earnest. A federal election is expected to take place in October.
As the 41st session came to a close Friday, Government House Leader Peter Van Loan touted the Conservatives’ accomplishments, saying that the majority government’s approach to Parliament has been “productive, hard-working and orderly.”
In little more than four years, the majority Conservative government, led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, saw more than 160 bills achieve royal assent.
Van Loan told reporters that the government has kept taxes low and made Canada safe for families in a “dangerous and uncertain world.”
With the three major party leaders absent from question period Friday, NDP and Liberal MPs took aim at the Conservatives’ record, calling them tired and out of touch.
“Canadians are sick of the Senate scandals, they’re sick of the wasteful spending, they’re sick of the entitlements of this government and Canadians stand ready for change,” Opposition House Leader Peter Julian said.
Tory MPs responded by saying if the NDP were to gain power, they would be reckless with taxpayers’ money.
“Canadians are not going to accept having the change stripped from their pockets,” Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre said. “They’re going to vote in favour of lower taxes.”
In May 2011, voters ushered in a majority government for the Harper Conservatives. It was also the first time in history that the New Democrats retained Official Opposition status.
