The government’s budget bill was approved by the House of Commons on Thursday, following the acceptance of several Conservative amendments by the Liberals at the finance committee earlier in the week. Bill C-15, which encompasses various policies from the Liberals’ November budget, was passed “on division,” indicating a mutual agreement among MPs to proceed without a formal vote.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May expressed concerns about the bill passing without a standing vote, but only parties with recognized status in the House can request one. Budget votes are viewed as confidence matters, meaning a failure to pass the bill would result in the government’s collapse.
The bill will now progress to the Senate for further review before becoming law, with the upper chamber having conducted a pre-study of the legislation starting in early December. During a detailed review of the bill, the House finance committee approved four Conservative amendments on Monday.
A notable point of contention for the Conservatives was a provision allowing the government to temporarily exempt individuals or businesses from federal laws, excluding the Criminal Code. The Conservative amendments introduced stricter conditions, such as a mandatory 30-day public consultation before granting exemptions, dual approval from a cabinet minister and the president of the Treasury Board, and a requirement for a comprehensive report to Parliament within 90 days justifying the decision and evaluating the need for permanent legislation.
Moreover, the amendments explicitly listed laws that could not be exempted, including the Conflict of Interest Act, Auditor General Act, and other critical accountability, safety, and national interest statutes.
