Despite an agreement to advance government bills through their final stages before the House of Commons adjourned last Thursday, critical budget and border legislation, C-4 and C-12, will not be enacted until at least February. The Senate’s lack of sessions beyond the House of Commons prevented the late legislation from proceeding through the upper chamber and obtaining royal assent until Parliament reconvenes after its two-month break.
Chloé Fedio, the spokesperson for Pierre Moreau, the government’s Senate representative, stated in an email to CBC News that the Senate chose not to rush the review of the intricate C-4 and C-12 bills. Fedio emphasized that these bills will be thoroughly examined in the new year, with Senate leadership planning an efficient review process when sessions resume on February 3.
Additionally, Fedio highlighted that on November 26, the Senate agreed to commence the assessment of the government’s fall budget implementation bill, C-15, across 11 different committees. This collaborative effort with the government’s recent priorities constrained senators from preemptively reviewing bills such as C-4 and C-12 before the winter recess.
Steven MacKinnon’s office, the Government House leader, affirmed its respect for the Senate’s decision while expressing contentment that both bills have advanced to the stage of clearing the House.
In a bid to accelerate the legislative process in the 45th Parliament, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government faced resistance from Senators last June. Concerns were raised about the growing use of extensive omnibus bills that posed challenges for thorough scrutiny by Senators.
The Senate’s last sitting day for 2025 was listed as December 11, with the House of Commons set to rise on December 12. It is customary for legislation to undergo final stages in the House just before recess, allowing appointed Senators to facilitate the swift progression of priority bills into law, particularly if time-sensitive measures are involved.
Following the final question period in the Commons for 2025, MacKinnon secured unanimous support from MPs last Thursday to advance both Bill C-4 and C-12 to the Senate without a standing vote. C-4, which endorses various tax adjustments and changes to political party obligations under the Canada Elections Act, had been extensively debated since its introduction in June.
C-12, containing provisions from the contentious omnibus border security legislation C-2, was split off and reintroduced as a standalone bill in October. The House swiftly approved committee amendments to C-12, paving the way for its passage as part of the all-party agreement orchestrated by MacKinnon.
The House of Commons adjourned at 4:18 p.m., with the Senate following suit at 4:23 p.m. All parliamentarians are now on a two-month holiday break, with the House scheduled to resume on January 26, and the Senate reconvening on February 3.