Senators’ public bills represent about one-third of non-government legislation being studied by the House. Senator Percy Downe says the Upper Chamber has ‘to be more responsible,’ taking care not to ‘flood the House of Commons’ with these bills.
A May 1 decision found the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act is sound, but in her dissent, Supreme Court Justice Suzanne Côté questioned the restrictions.
The House Subcommittee on International Human Rights’ May 7 report was 780 words long, and didn’t declare whether a genocide is unfolding in Sudan, disappointing some past witnesses.
The Liberals have adjusted the makeup of House committees to reflect their new majority, shifting to a structure of seven Liberal members, four Conservatives, and one Bloc Québécois member on Liberal-chaired committees, compared to the previous four-four-one structure.
New notification systems, including for advanced votes, are planned to come online as part of Parliament’s Centre Block revitalization project, which won’t be fully opened until about 2032.
Thirty-one per cent of government bills during this Parliament had a recorded vote at third reading in the House, compared to 66 per cent in the 44th Parliament and 47 per cent in the 43rd Parliament.
With their newfound majority, the Liberals could take control of committees, giving them final say over the extent of Bill C-22’s sweeping new surveillance powers.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon will table a motion ‘in the coming days’ to change Parliament’s standing orders and boost Liberal representation on committees by two seats.
Sheila Copps joins The Hot Room to talk about the new Liberal majority government, questions about its legitimacy, and how it could change the dynamic on the Hill.
A joint parliamentary committee is studying recommendations for the eligibility of medical assistance in dying for those whose sole condition is mental illness. It’s currently set for implementation in 2027, following two delays in the last three years.
Conservative MP Mike Dawson is continuing his fight against accepting the annual pay raise, and says the issue will be discussed at this month’s Commons Board of Internal Economy meeting. Meanwhile, former Liberal MP Joe Jordan says competitive salaries are critical to attract top talent to Parliament.
The Liberals could use programming motions as a ‘workaround’ to speed up committees without rejigging party representation, which is locked in for the duration of Parliament, unless altered by a House motion, says former NDP staffer Anthony Salloum.
If a government were to use its numbers to force through standing orders changes for a reallocation of committee seats, it would be acting within its formal powers—but outside long-standing convention and the guardrails against tyranny-of-the-majority would begin to look optional.
Stefan Kapuran is recovering after a March 9 medical emergency, and says he’s grateful for the Liberal staffer and Parliamentary Protective Service for their quick action that day. He says he’s also grateful to Conservative MP Scott Reid, whose push to have defibrillators installed in federal buildings is the reason he is still alive today.
While the House does an ‘excellent job’ of protecting the cybersecurity of MPs while travelling, Tory MP Stephanie Kusie says she sees a gap in information and training on general security.
The House Board of Internal Economy also recently gave a qualified thumbs up to a series of plans related to the new Block 2 complex being built south of Wellington Street.
The Hill Times’ deputy editor Tessie Sanci said the repeated interruptions and demands for her to stop recording ‘made it hard for all of us in the room to do our jobs.’
Despite Senate amendments to the legislation, Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty says the government won’t address the second-generation cutoff in the Indian Act without broad consultation. But advocate Zoë Craig-Sparrow says ‘you cannot consult on a genocide.’
A total of 13 workplace harassment or violence complaints were filed in 2025, down from the record high of 18 complaints filed in 2024.
Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie says the PBO is ‘unable to do its job of providing government oversight.’ But another former budget watchdog Kevin Page says the prime minister has ‘deep respect for the legislative budget offices,’ adding that the next PBO will be faced with ‘enormous challenges’ in the months and years ahead and will be playing a critical role.
But Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux says the current rules do not need any change because they provide decorum and predictability in the House.
Liberal MP Jenna Sudds has called for ‘flexibility’ after fellow local caucus colleague Bruce Fanjoy criticized requirements that public servants work in-office four days a week starting in July, and executives five days a week starting in May.
The British Columbia MP said Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called him on Feb. 10 to offer words of comfort in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, one of the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history.
Nine people are dead after a Feb. 10 mass killing in British Columbia, including the shooter. Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the ‘horrific, senseless violence’ in the Chamber on Feb. 11 after normal parliamentary proceedings and committees were cancelled.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s previously announced trip to Munich, Germany, has been cancelled in the wake of the deadly Feb. 10 shooting in British Columbia, and Question Period, committee meetings, and other work on Parliament Hill was halted on Feb. 11.
