Canadian Legislative News
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The House of Commons adjourned on June 20, 2019, for the summer and for upcoming elections in October, after passing multiple pieces of legislation back to the Senate. After a tumultuous four-year session - from the SNC-Lavalin situation to heated debates on carbon taxation, to the choice of two new opposition party leaders - this Parliament has been continuously newsworthy.
As the House of Commons rose, and the Senate rose the following day, a few pieces of legislation were passed at the last minute, the most notable and controversial being Bill C-69. This legislation seeks to update the impact assessment system that looks at natural resource projects such as pipelines. The bill has the attention of provincial leaders, like Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, who publicly stated that the legislation would destroy any future private investments in the natural resources space. The mining industry’s position is that the bill would improve assessments.
While the government attempted to pass all pieces of legislation prior to the election, Bill C-100, which would implement the USMCA, is at a standstill. The federal government is taking a wait-and-see approach, watching for action from the United States Congress. Mexico has already ratified, but if the United States does not, trade between the three countries will continue through the original NAFTA agreement. Should the U.S. Congress decide to move ahead with the ratification process, then Parliament would be recalled to discuss and ratify.
All federal parties are now engaged in the election cycle. On the same day that the House of Commons adjourned, the Conservative Party launched its own climate plan. A few days before that, the New Democratic Party unveiled its entire election platform. While the Liberal party still has not released its entire platform - as the Conservatives continue revealing aspects of its own week-by-week - parties are now solely focused on October. Polls indicate a close race between the Liberals and Conservatives, with the Green Party nearly tied with the New Democratic Party.
