Liberals ram through bills in the House of Commons before summer break

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The government’s representative in the upper chamber, Pierre Moreau, introduced a motion to pass C-16, which seeks to protect victims of crime, especially women and children, C-25, which amends the Canada Elections Act, as well as C-30 by Friday.

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Paul Prosper, a senator from Nova Scotia, said that Senators have rushed through C-25, focusing their studies mainly on privacy concerns and the issue of the “longest ballot” advocacy campaign but have not have enough time to study foreign interference in elections.

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“Yet, once again, the government is using a number of tactics in the book to curb debate,” he said. “Competing priorities, other Senate business and proper meals and sleep are, apparently, not within the government’s problem.”

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Prosper proposed that the study on C-25 be extended until October to allow the Senate to do its work properly. Other senators, like Julie Miville-Dechêne, agreed, saying, “We’re being asked to rubber-stamp bills. We’re being asked to act like doormats.”

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Moreau said the government could not support Prosper’s amendment because Elections Canada has indicated it needs approximately six months to implement the changes, and the government will have to hold by-elections to replace a number of departing MPs.

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Prosper’s amendment to extend the study of C-25 was defeated in the Senate.

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Despite claims from the government that opposition parties are obstructing parliamentary work, some bills have managed to go through all stages. That is the case for the government’s bill on bail reform, C-14, which received royal assent on Monday.

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Justice Minister Sean Fraser praised the premiers, municipal leaders and law enforcement officials, which he said all contributed to the success of this legislation — now law.

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“This bill, very importantly, was not designed behind closed doors on Parliament Hill. Its strength is really from the source of collaboration we’ve had from different partners from across the country,” Fraser said during a press conference on Tuesday.

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“We’ve taken a major step forward,” he added. “And the reason why we were able to do it is because we’ve done it together.”

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Minutes later, his colleague at public safety, Gary Anandasangaree, complained that C-22 — a contentious bill which gives police and intelligence agencies invasive powers — was not moving quickly enough in parliamentary committee and blamed the Conservative opposition.

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National Post
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