Parliament set to hold an 11th hour vote on $21B in government spending

Members of Parliament are gearing up to vote on a crucial government request for billions of dollars in funding as the deadline looms. The Liberals have put forward a proposal to allocate $21.6 billion in spending through the supplementary estimates, with a significant portion earmarked for the First Nations child and family services program and to reimburse the Quebec government for services provided to asylum seekers.

There was some uncertainty surrounding whether the vote would take place before the impending deadline, given the ongoing standoff in Parliament. The Conservatives have been pushing the Liberals to disclose documents related to alleged misspending on a green-tech fund, causing a gridlock in government proceedings. This privilege debate has taken precedence over other parliamentary business, grinding government operations to a halt.

In a recent ruling, Speaker Greg Fergus invoked his authority to temporarily halt the privilege debate, allowing the vote on government spending to move forward. This decision also paved the way for the introduction of remaining opposition day motions before the stipulated deadline of December 10.

One of the key motions tabled by the Conservatives focuses on combating the fentanyl crisis. The motion calls for the reversal of Bill C-5, which eliminated mandatory minimum sentences, as well as measures to curb the importation of fentanyl precursors and enhance resources for detecting these substances at ports. Additionally, the motion seeks to address concerns around the government’s “unsafe supply” opioid programs.

Another Conservative motion aims to eliminate the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on new homes valued under $1 million. Both motions are slated for a vote following the question period.

While the Conservatives had hinted at triggering non-confidence votes with their opposition motions, these specific motions do not contain such language. The supplementary estimates must be voted on by December 10 to authorize additional government spending.

The debate on the supplementary estimates is scheduled for Tuesday evening, with the actual vote likely to occur on Wednesday morning. Under the new procedure rules, the government can suspend the sitting day at midnight and resume proceedings at 9 a.m. the next day if the debate on spending matters remains unresolved.

Government House leader Karina Gould expressed optimism about the upcoming vote, emphasizing the importance of passing the funding for various programs benefiting Canadians. The supplementary estimates include allocations such as $561 million for the Department of National Defence’s Canadian multi-mission aircraft project and $955.2 million for the First Nations child and family services program.

The outcome of the vote seems predetermined, with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirming his party’s support for the supplementary estimates due to the inclusion of funding for the government’s new dental care program. As Parliament gears up for the crucial vote, the fate of billions of dollars in funding hangs in the balance.