Feds cut off debate on budget bill, schedule midnight sittings
The federal government has limited further debate on the 2021 budget implementation bill, in an effort to pass it in the dying days of the spring House of Commons sitting, saying that the Conservatives left them “no choice” but to intervene to see key COVID-19 aid supports extended.
And, in a further sign that a two-month break for MPs from parliamentary duties is just around the corner: the government has reinstated late-night sittings a few times a week starting Monday and effective until the final scheduled sitting day next Wednesday, June 23. This week and next on Monday and Wednesday MPs will sit until midnight, and Friday's sitting has been extended to 4:30 p.m.
The budget bill was the first of what is expected to be a few priority pieces of legislation to have time allocation imposed on them in the remaining sitting days before a the summer break when Canadians could be thrust into an election campaign.
The legislation, Bill C-30, enacts several major budget 2021 commitments, including measures to see key pandemic aid programs like the wage and rent subsidy extended to the end of September. If the bill does not pass in the coming days, those support programs would expire while pandemic lockdowns are still in place.
The Liberals brought forward the time allocation motion Monday morning, and after a brief debate in which the Liberals were challenged on whether the move would be needed if they had more effectively managed their legislative agenda and had tabled the budget earlier, it passed with the backing of the Bloc Quebecois.
The bill is currently at report stage in the House, and will need to pass that as well as third reading before it can be sent to the Senate. The time allocation motion sets out that no more than five hours will be spent debating the bill at each of the remaining two stages before it comes to a vote. Also tucked into the bill are a series of other measures, including changes to the Social Security Tribunal, the Canada Labour Code, and the Canada Elections Act.
“This bill has been debated in the House. It has been studied at committee. It is now time to call the question. It is time to put aside the theatrics and to lay out once and for all, where we all stand on these issues,” said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland during a press conference on Monday.
She placed the blame for needing to cut short further debate on the Official Opposition, saying they were holding up the extension of key COVID-19 aid benefits. Subsidies aside, Freeland said that in her view, the bill cannot languish in the House over the summer break as it includes other important aspects of the government’s plans to see Canada “come roaring back” from COVID-19.
Debating the time allocation motion in French, Conservative House Leader Gerard Deltell called it a “gag order,” while NDP House Leader Peter Julian focused on his party’s calls for the government to reverse their decision in the budget to cut the amount of money provided through the Canadian Recovery Benefit, as people are still relying on it.
Tabled on April 30, a few weeks after the 2021 budget was presented, various committees in the Senate have been pre-studying aspects of the wide-ranging legislation for weeks, in anticipation of an end-of-sitting time-crunch.
Last week, Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez first signalled that the Liberals would be moving ahead with motions to cut off debate on key bills, accusing the Conservatives of trying to stall key legislation. The Official Opposition denied the allegation.
In the days following last week’s legislative tiff, the government has moved to restrict how much time MPs will spend debating certain key bills, including Bill C-10 regarding Broadcasting Act Changes and Bill C-12 regarding Canada’s greenhouse gas emission targets.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives continue to take the Chamber off scheduled agenda items when they have the opportunity to raise their ongoing concerns with the Liberals’ respect for Parliament, citing a refusal to comply with document production orders as one example.
“The Trudeau government at every step of this pandemic has either tried to limit scrutiny, limit debate, limit coverage,” said Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole on Monday. “They're the least transparent government in Canadian history.”
On Monday, Rodriguez doubled down, stating that the current tone in the Commons is “toxic” and the Liberals are bracing for the Conservatives to keep obstructing “at every step.”
Despite this messaging and the stalemate in the Commons, the Liberals continue to say they have “absolutely no desire for an election.”
That was how Freeland put it when Green Party parliamentary leader Elizabeth May questioned whether MPs are being put under “false time pressure” given the next fixed election date is in October 2023.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW AI helping to identify undiagnosed genetic disorders in children
Researchers have developed the world's first algorithm powered by artificial intelligence to identify children with undiagnosed rare genetic disorders.
Toronto awarded WNBA's first franchise outside U.S., with expansion team set to begin play in 2026
Toronto has been awarded the WNBA's first franchise outside the United States, with the expansion team set to begin play in 2026.
With 10K providers offering care to 2M seniors, health minister defends dental plan
Canada's dental care plan is 'getting there' Health Minister Mark Holland said Wednesday defending the program's rollout that's now seen two million seniors sign up, but just 10,000 oral health providers enrolled to treat them.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
Local Spotlight
'Best experience ever': B.C. baker on making it to the finals of Netflix's 'Is it Cake?'
When Jujhar Mann said he wanted to be a pastry chef on a grade school career project, he didn't imagine that pursuing his dream would land him on a popular Netflix baking competition.
Winnipeg chef delivers Manitoba cuisine to Houston diners
A city known for its history, ties to outer space and southern barbecue, is also home to a Winnipeg chef dishing out dozens of perogies.
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
Beyond books: Halifax libraries lends instruments, sports equipment, memory kits and more
Public libraries in Atlantic Canada are now lending a broader range of items.
'A special bird': The unbreakable bond between purple martins and humans
Flashes of purple darting across the sky mixed with the serenading sound of songs will be noticed more with spring in full force in Manitoba.
7-year-old Pokémon prodigy heading to Hawaii for world championship tournament
Catching 'em all with impressive speed, a 7-year-old boy from Windsor, Ont. who only started his competitive Pokémon journey seven months ago has already levelled up to compete at a world championship level.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
From DVDs to rehearsals: Halifax theatre company transforms Video Difference building into arts hub
2b Theatre recently moved into the old Video Difference building, seeking to transform it into an artistic hub, meeting space, and temporary housing unit for visiting performers in Halifax.
'Another pair of eyes watching over me:' How a B.C. woman's service dog saved her from drowning
A B.C. woman says her service dog pulled her from a lake moments before she had a seizure, saving her life.