The government’s budget bill, Bill C-15, was approved by the House of Commons on Thursday following the incorporation of several Conservative amendments during the finance committee’s review earlier in the week. The bill, which encompasses numerous policies outlined in the Liberal budget from November, was passed “on division,” indicating that MPs decided to let it proceed without a recorded vote despite differing opinions.
During the process, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May expressed concerns about the bill passing without a standing vote, but only MPs from parties with recognized status in the House can request such a vote. Budget votes are crucial as they are considered matters of confidence, meaning a government could collapse if the bill did not pass.
Next, the bill will move to the Senate for further consideration before it can become law. The Senate has been examining the legislation since early December through a pre-study.
The House finance committee accepted four Conservative amendments on Monday during a detailed examination of the bill. One contentious issue for the Conservatives was a provision enabling the government to offer temporary exemptions from federal laws (excluding the Criminal Code) for individuals or businesses. The amendments proposed by the Conservatives introduced requirements such as a 30-day public consultation period before granting exemptions, dual approval from a cabinet minister and the president of the Treasury Board, and a mandatory report to Parliament within 90 days detailing the decision’s rationale and the need for permanent legislation.
Additionally, the amendments specified laws that cannot be exempted, including the Conflict of Interest Act, Auditor General Act, and other fundamental accountability, safety, and national interest statutes.
