With the House of Commons prorogued, some key Liberal legislation may not pass

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has approved Justin Trudeau’s request to prorogue Parliament until Mar. 24, effectively pausing the activities of the House of Commons while the Liberals work on replacing him as both Liberal Leader and prime minister.

This decision means that the legislative agenda will be reset when the House of Commons reconvenes in March, potentially leading to the demise of some key pieces of government legislation that were in progress.

When Parliament resumes, there is a possibility for the work that was interrupted by prorogation to be reinstated if opposition parties support a motion to continue debates where they left off. However, it is uncertain if this will occur, as opposition parties are aiming to bring down the government altogether.

One significant piece of legislation that faces an uncertain future is the Online Harms Act, which has recently been divided into two separate bills. This legislation is designed to hold online platforms accountable for harmful content, such as bullying, incitement of violence, and promotion of hatred. However, it has faced criticism for potential violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Another piece of legislation at risk is a court-ordered bill that would grant citizenship to individuals born outside of Canada to Canadian parents who were also born abroad. This bill aims to replace a previous law passed by the Conservative government in 2009, which was deemed unconstitutional in 2023. A judge had given the government an extension until Mar. 19 to pass the bill, but this deadline will now be missed without further action.

Additionally, the increase of the capital gains tax inclusion rate, a central component of the last federal budget, is in limbo. The government intends to raise the tax rate on capital gains above $250,000 from one-half to two-thirds for individuals, trusts, and corporations. However, the relevant legislation was not introduced due to a filibuster in the House of Commons.

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu has highlighted a bill that aims to ensure clean drinking water and source water protection for First Nations communities as a significant step towards co-developing legislation with Indigenous Peoples. This bill, which seeks to replace a previous Conservative initiative, would ensure that First Nations communities receive adequate funding for water treatment and recognize their right to clean drinking water.

Furthermore, the Liberals have proposed a bill to establish a modern treaty commissioner to oversee the government’s compliance with modern treaties with First Nations. Communities with modern treaties have long called for this commissioner, as it would provide them with recourse when the government fails to uphold its treaty obligations.

The prorogation of Parliament has introduced uncertainty regarding the fate of these legislative initiatives. It remains to be seen how the government and opposition parties will navigate these challenges when Parliament reconvenes in March.