Bills, byelections and bilats: what you need to know as MPs return to Parliament Hill
OTTAWA — Members of Parliament are making their way back to Ottawa for the fall sitting of the House of Commons that gets underway on Monday.
Members of Parliament are returning to Ottawa for the fall sitting of the House of Commons, which begins on Monday. This period is anticipated to be active, featuring the federal budget's release, legislative debates, and upcoming byelections.
The budget is a key focus as Prime Minister Mark Carney's government chose to release its annual spending plan in the fall instead of the traditional spring. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has been consulting various stakeholders on the budget but has yet to announce its release date. Carney hinted that the government aims to balance the operating budget 12 months ahead of schedule, while the current fiscal year is projected to have a $65.3 billion deficit.
The fall session will see the introduction of "very significant economic legislation" under the Building Canada Strong Act, aimed at expediting the approval of new federal projects. Additionally, legislation will be enacted to extend the fuel excise tax following its introduction due to escalating oil prices caused by the ongoing Iran conflict.
Labour relations will be a topic of discussion, with Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu revealing that the Liberals might propose changes to the Labour Code. Controversial government legislation, including the lawful access bill (Bill C-22), digital safety bill, and a First Nations water bill, will also be debated.
With regard to trade, talks with the U.S. are on hold, but Canada's new EU alliance (or associate membership) will be up for debate in Parliament. Conservatives are pushing for a Commons debate on the EU deal, expressing concerns about potential negative implications on immigration and tax policies.
In the realm of byelections, three new Liberal MPs will be sworn in for the fall. Six additional byelections are scheduled in Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. Candian MPs Cathay Wagantall, Larry Brock, Shaun Chen, and Steven Guilbeault have all resigned from their seats, leading to vacancies in Yorkton-Melville, Brantford-Brant South, Scarborough North, and Laurier-Sainte-Marie, respectively.
Two byelections in Quebec are set to replace MPs who left politics to run provincially. Carney has six months to set a date for these byelections, with Quebec races likely to occur before the provincial election on October 5.
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