As Conservative House tactics persist, Gould suggests Poilievre's party take a 'time-out'
As members of Parliament are bracing for the end of the House of Commons sitting—on time despite persisting Conservative delay tactics—Government House Leader Karina Gould says she thinks Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's party needs "a little time-out."
Tensions are always running high in the final few weeks of the House sitting before a prolonged break, but after a jam-packed political fall and last week's threat from Poilievre to use every tool in his arsenal to jam up the House to prevent Liberal legislation from advancing, cross-party relations are considerably strained.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Government House Leader Karina Gould put the Conservatives on blast over what's been a week of smaller-scale delay tactics compared to last week's marathon filibuster, but have still had the effect of slowing down progress on priority government legislation.
MPs were supposed to be debating Bill C-50, the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act on Thursday, but in line with an unsuccessful attempt Conservative MPs made at committee, the party tried to register nearly 200 amendments to the 11-page piece of legislation.
In response, Gould dropped the bill from the agenda and called the so-called "anti-scab" legislation for debate instead, stating she wasn't "going to indulge yet another one of Mr. Poilievre’s temper tantrums."
"In this parliamentary session, the Conservatives have obstructed over a third of days of debate of government business," Gould said Thursday. "I think they need a little time-out … I think they need to, have a moment to reflect on their behaviour and to think about whether this is how they really want to represent their constituents by bringing silly partisan games that are not going to have an impact."
One of this week's examples of how the Conservatives ate into House time was when Poilievre used the allowed to him during Tuesday's debate on Bill C-59, the government's fall economic statement implementation legislation, to stand on his feet for nearly two hours talking about the economy.
As he did so, MPs from other parties peppered his address with points of order asking if, and when, he intended to end his remarks so they could ask him some questions.
"Mr. Speaker, there is no limit to my speaking time, just like there is no limit to Canada's potential. If only we had some common sense," Poilievre quipped after one interruption.
"Every time I get interrupted, I think of something else to say. It just prolongs my remarks," he said, after another.
While Liberal frustration over opposition House tactics is an evergreen issue in Ottawa, as is the Conservatives' assertion the issue is poor agenda management, the government's top legislative manager went on to note some of the bills that have been slowed down — a clearly stated goal of Poilievre's party — over the last few months.
This included bills that would advance economic and other support for housing, Ukraine and curbing grocery prices.
Gould suggested that through the Conservatives' comportment on these files, Poilievre has shown Canadians "who he is."
"The House will rise tomorrow, that is the end of the House calendar… Mr. Poilievre was all huff and bluster last week when he said all of these things that he was going to do, and he hasn't been able to deliver," Gould said, referencing Poilievre's vow to "ruin" Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Christmas vacation until he relented on the carbon tax.
"He likes to talk a big game, but he can’t deliver," Gould said, not addressing the series of priority bills the Liberals would have liked to see pass by now, but which haven’t.
"We are almost at the end of what some might say was the gong show session of Parliament," said NDP MP Charlie Angus on his way into Thursday's question period. He went on to go over what he sees as NDP-led accomplishments in the House of Commons over the fall sitting.
"For New Democrats, we stayed focused the whole time. We saw the Conservatives using their position to try and block really fundamental things, for example, sustainable jobs legislation… we had to deal with all kinds of monkey business," Angus said. "We saw Pierre Poilievre cost the taxpayers just this past week probably about $2 million in (an) around-the-clock stunt where we actually did get to see where the Conservatives stand."
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault shared his take on this year’s parliamentary proceedings as well.
"I think this session was feisty. At the same time, we got a lot done," Boissonnault said. "You saw some spicy question periods and some committees that got bogged down… but at the end of the day, the agreement we have with the New Democrats remains strong."
Conservative MP Kevin Waugh described the fall sitting as "pretty intense."
"What do you expect? Canadians are hurting. This government doesn’t realize it, and that’s why it’s intense in the House," Waugh said.
While in seasons past, all parties have come together to unanimously agree to adjourn for the holidays a day or two early, that won't be happening this year.
MPs are expected to sit their usual hours on Friday, as the Liberals press to move a few more bills forward before calling it a year. The House of Commons will then stand adjourned until Jan. 29, 2024.
Getting in their end-of-year holiday well wishes on Thursday, Gould heaped praise on all of the House of Commons employees, while NDP MP and party whip Rachel Blaney extended her thanks to Parliament Hill interpreters, translators and other staff that keep MPs safe and fed.
In offering up his appreciation, Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, on behalf of his party, thanked everyone for "their hard work over the last year."
With files from Â鶹´«Ã½' Annie Bergeron-Oliver
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police responded to the area of Beverly Street and Dundas Street North around 6 a.m. Monday for a report of a missing two-year-old boy.
A rare polar bear showed up on the shores of Iceland. Police shot it
A rare polar bear that was spotted outside a cottage in a remote village in Iceland was shot by police after being considered a threat, authorities said Friday.
Erik Menendez says Ryan Murphy's 'Monsters' is full of 'blatant lies'
Erik Menendez is slamming the 'dishonest portrayal' of his life in Netflix's 'Monsters: The Lyle and Erick Menendez Story.'
Here's one thing you can do to feel happier and more motivated at work, according to a new study
One simple action involving your smartphone could help improve your mental health at work, according to a new study.
Lebanon sees deadliest day of conflict since 2006 as Israeli strikes kill more than 270
Israeli strikes on Monday killed more than 270 Lebanese in the deadliest barrage since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war as the Israeli military warned residents in southern and eastern Lebanon to evacuate their homes ahead of a widening air campaign against Hezbollah.
There are 'no restrictions' on the right to receive health services in Quebec for English speakers, according to a new clarification document issued by the Quebec Health Ministry on Monday.
A six-year-old boy from northeastern Manitoba who had been missing since last Wednesday has been found dead.
OceanGate co-founder says Titan built from scratch because no one else could meet needs
The co-founder of the company that owned the experimental submersible that imploded en route to the wreckage of the Titanic said Monday the company zeroed in on the use of carbon fibre for the doomed vessel because the company wanted a lightweight, less costly submersible that did not need to be tethered to an expensive mother ship.
Man accused in apparent assassination left note indicating he intended to kill Trump
The man accused in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump at a golf course in Florida left behind a note saying that he intended to kill the former president and maintained in his car a handwritten list of dates and venues where Trump was to appear, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday.
Local Spotlight
Before influencers on social media, Canada’s Jeanne Beker was bringing the world of high fashion down to earth and as Calgary’s Glenbow Museum gets a major make-over, it will include a new exhibition showcasing the pop culture icon.
A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.
A Nova Scotian YouTuber has launched a mini-truck bookmobile.
Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.
Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.
An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.
They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.
A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.
Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.