Photo: Sean Kilpatrick The Canadian Press On Wednesday, the Liberals congratulated themselves on having passed 15 bills since January.
The suitcases of federal deputies were ready to escape the oppressive heat of Ottawa after an eventful session from which all parties judged to emerge victorious. A motion adopted unanimously on Wednesday makes them take the road outside the capital.
The Liberal leader in the House, Gatineau MP Steven MacKinnon, welcomed for passing 15 bills since January, making his government “one of the most productive minority governments” in recent history. Like every end of session, he claims that conservative obstruction prevented him from doing more.
Above all, his government has now fulfilled virtually the entire list of promises contained in its agreement concluded with the New Democratic Party (NDP) two years ago. In theory, this agreement must still hold for another year, in order to keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power until the fall of 2025.
The bill aimed at banning strikebreakers for businesses under federal jurisdiction was adopted by the Senate this week. The one that promises to make contraceptives and diabetes medications free is in the final stages of being considered by senators, who are expected to leave Ottawa later this week.
< p>Under its agreement with the NDP, its government still has to adopt a law on national standards in CHSLDs in the coming year, recalls Mr. MacKinnon. The federal dental care program must also be extended to more categories of the less fortunate population, recalls Quebec NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice.
“There are things important things that we managed to accomplish thanks to our balance of power in our negotiations”, he congratulates himself.
« Extraordinary session” for the oppositions
The Bloc Québécois also claims to have had an “extraordinary session”, the success of which is “recognized in public opinion”, boasted its leader , Yves-François Blanchet, Wednesday.
His party notably tabled a reform of the Old Age Security Act, a bill to protect those who throw alert and another to protect dairy supply management during commercial negotiations.
Yves-François Blanchet admits to having “laughed a little” when the Prime Minister of Quebec questioned the relevance of his party during an exchange in the National Assembly. François Legault had said to his PQ opponent Paul St-Pierre Plamondon in February: “What is the point of the Bloc ? »
«François wanted to pinch Paul, it took this form, [but] no one serious doubts our usefulness. It was a heated moment,” recalled Mr. Blanchet, without rancor.
Even if the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada did not deliver a speech at the end of the session, contrary to his usual, Pierre Poilievre received new confirmation of his large lead in the national polls. An Abacus Data poll, conducted in early June among 1,550 respondents, placed his party 20 points ahead of Justin Trudeau's Liberals (42% versus 22%).
The Conservatives ended the session with news that the Liberal government agreed to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Canada's list of terrorist entities, one of their long-standing demands. They have devoted the last few days to following the Liberal government on its plan to increase the inclusion rate of the capital gains tax for those who declare the most, and by vehemently opposing the protection decree woodland caribou in Quebec.