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.
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.
But Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux says the current rules do not need any change because they provide decorum and predictability in the House.
By parliamentary convention, the Speaker only votes in the event of a tie. At the moment, after two floor crossers to the Liberals, the government holds 171 votes, and the opposition collectively has 172.
Experienced MP and current Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia will have to use all his wiles to ensure the fall session does not descend into chaos.
‘We’re not trying to overload the agenda, but we do have a lot to get done in a short period of time,’ says MacKinnon of the coming sitting weeks.
‘Office moves are typically completed within two months following the federal election,’ and only 50 per cent of MPs have a ‘functional office’ a week into the new Parliament, according to the Speakers office.
The governing Liberals want to work with both the Conservatives and the Bloc in committees, say Liberal MPs Judy Sgro and Kevin Lamoureux.
The new Speaker of the House will receive a total salary of $309,700, manage an office budget of $1.4-million, receive extra perks, and oversees annual expenditures totalling $656.5-million, according to the House.
Hill office assignments are handled by respective party whips, and start with the party with the most seats in the House. New Liberal Whip Mark Gerretsen was named to the role on May 14.
Conservative MP Chris d’Entremont pitches himself as a steady hand in this minority Parliament: ‘experienced, and impartial leadership is more important than ever.’
The results of The Hill Times’ 2024 year-end poll are in. Liberal MP Sean Fraser scores a hat trick and takes the ‘Most Valuable Politician’ title for the second year in a row, while Tory Leader Pierre Poilievre divides respondents.
NDP, Conservative, and Green MPs raise allegations of antics in the opposition lobby that resulted in parliamentary pages being removed for ‘safety’ concerns.
Plus, the House recently received a $500 cheque on behalf of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as reimbursement for the use of his parliamentary office in a partisan video.
Despite recommending against adopting a formal policy, Tory MP Michelle Rempel Garner says ‘that doesn’t mean … that we shouldn’t have something.’
There are a number of government bills as well as opposition motions on the docket for the MPs to address once the House finishes two debates on the questions of privilege put forward by Conservative MPs.
As some look for a way forward in Parliament, it’s ‘preposterous’ to say the NDP aren’t standing up to the Tories, says NDP House Leader Peter Julian.
With 25 sitting weeks left in this minority Parliament, any final pre-election progress on this Liberal government’s legislative agenda hangs on negotiations with the opposition.
Twenty-one governmental departments and agencies responded to a June 10 order for documents by redacting or withholding information, while ten entities submitted unredacted documents.
In terms of MP office expenses, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was the highest-spender during the first three quarters of 2023-24, having spent almost all of his $535,640 budget.
MacKinnon says he wants to work co-operatively with the opposition, but it comes with a caveat: ‘obstruction without alternative is not the way the House of Commons is supposed to work.’
