OTTAWA — The House of Commons may adjourn for the winter recess as early as Thursday, potentially without the Liberal government passing its extensive budget implementation bill. Although the House calendar indicates that Members of Parliament (MPs) are scheduled to remain in session until Friday, they could reach a consensus to break early for the Christmas holidays. MPs are set to reconvene on January 26, 2026.
House Leader Steven MacKinnon expressed on Wednesday that the government has made significant progress during the fall sitting, highlighting that both budget and crime bills are still awaiting passage into law. This marks the first complete parliamentary session since Prime Minister Mark Carney assumed office in the spring. During this time, the House successfully passed legislation aimed at streamlining the construction of major projects and alleviating interprovincial trade barriers.
When asked about the performance of Parliament during this sitting, Prime Minister Carney acknowledged the limitations of not holding a majority but stated that proceedings have been “functioning well.” He emphasized the pressure to expedite the passage of outstanding crime legislation to meet Canadian expectations.
Among the pending legislation is Bill C-14, which was introduced in October and aims to introduce stricter bail regulations for repeat and violent offenders. Another piece of proposed legislation, Bill C-16, introduced earlier this week, seeks to reinstate mandatory minimum sentences previously deemed unconstitutional by the courts, as well as introduce new measures to combat hate and controlling behaviors towards women, and enhance protections for children against online threats.
The government also still needs to address a revised version of a border security bill intended to equip the Canada Border Services Agency with new tools to combat drug and gun trafficking, auto theft, and controversial adjustments to Canada's refugee and asylum policies. On Tuesday, NDP MPs Leah Gazan and Jenny Kwan joined forces with human rights advocates, urging the government to reconsider the legislation, which they claim targets vulnerable populations and fails to enhance border security while fostering racism and discrimination.
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer criticized the Liberal government for the delays in advancing its legislative agenda, arguing that the government has not effectively collaborated with other parties to address pressing affordability issues. “In recent months, we have witnessed various procedural maneuvers that the Liberals have employed which have effectively stymied their own agenda,” Scheer remarked, suggesting that after ten years in power, the Liberals are still struggling with governance.
In response, MacKinnon accused the Conservatives of obstructing legislative progress, specifically mentioning bill C-4, which seeks to eliminate the consumer carbon price, a measure that Carney enacted through regulation shortly after taking office in March. MacKinnon stated, “There are clear instances where we are not discussing the fundamental principles of the bill but rather engaging in tactics that prevent the government from advancing its legislative priorities.”
The Liberal budget, which passed in November, survived a confidence vote with support from Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, alongside abstentions from two NDP and two Conservative MPs. The implementation bill for segments of the budget successfully advanced to second reading on Wednesday and is set to proceed to committee for further examination in the new year.
