The government’s budget bill, Bill C-15, was approved by the House of Commons on Thursday afternoon, following the acceptance of several Conservative amendments to the omnibus legislation by the Liberals at the finance committee earlier in the week. The bill, which incorporates various policies outlined in the Liberal budget from November, passed “on division,” indicating that MPs agreed to let the bill proceed without a formal recorded vote despite differing opinions.
During the proceedings, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May expressed objections to the bill passing without a standing vote, noting that only MPs from a party with recognized status in the House can request one. Budget votes are crucial as they are considered matters of confidence, implying that the government’s stability could be at risk if the bill had not been approved.
Next, the bill will proceed to the Senate for further deliberation before being enacted into law. The Senate has been engaging in a preliminary examination of the legislation since early December.
Earlier in the week, the House finance committee voted in favor of four Conservative amendments during a detailed review of the bill. One significant concern raised by the Conservatives revolved around a provision that would enable the government to temporarily exempt individuals or businesses from federal laws, excluding the Criminal Code.
The Conservative amendments, inspired by similar powers in other countries, introduced requirements such as a mandatory 30-day public consultation period before granting exemptions and the necessity for approval from both a cabinet minister and the president of the Treasury Board. Additionally, the amended bill mandates a comprehensive report to be submitted to Parliament within 90 days, outlining the reasoning behind the exemption decisions and evaluating the need for permanent legislation.
Furthermore, the amendments specifically identify laws that cannot be subject to exemptions, including the Conflict of Interest Act, Auditor General Act, and other critical accountability, safety, and national interest statutes.