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CTV News
21 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
House Speaker splits major projects bill for two separate votes
Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Thursday, June 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle Members of Parliament will hold two separate votes on the government's major projects bill later today after the House Speaker ruled the legislation has two distinct parts. Bill C-5, known as the one Canadian economy act, contains measures to tackle internal trade barriers and also gives the government sweeping new powers to approve major projects. The Liberals pledged during the election campaign to pass a law to break down interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day. They're pushing the legislation through the House of Commons with the support of the Conservatives, and aim to have it passed by the end of the day. The Bloc Québécois has called for the bill to be split to allow MPs more time to study the measures that deal with major projects. New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan asked House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia to hold separate votes on third reading, and Scarpaleggia agreed in a ruling this afternoon that the bill has two distinct parts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CP NewsAlert: House Speaker splits major projects bill for two separate votes
OTTAWA — Members of Parliament will hold two separate votes on the government's major projects bill later today after the House Speaker ruled the legislation has two distinct parts. Bill C-5, known as the one Canadian economy act, contains measures to tackle internal trade barriers and also gives the government sweeping new powers to approve major projects. The Liberals pledged during the election campaign to pass a law to break down interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day. They're pushing the legislation through the House of Commons with the support of the Conservatives, and aim to have it passed by the end of the day. The Bloc Québécois has called for the bill to be split to allow MPs more time to study the measures that deal with major projects. New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan asked House Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia to hold separate votes on third reading, and Scarpaleggia agreed in a ruling this afternoon that the bill has two distinct parts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025. The Canadian Press
National Post
5 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Liberals to pass major projects bill this week with Conservative support
Article content OTTAWA — Conservatives will be supporting the Liberal government's internal trade and major projects bill that is expected to be passed before Canada Day, revealed Leo Housakos, the leader of the Opposition in the Senate. Article content Housakos confirmed the news as he was questioning Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland during a pre-study of the bill on Monday afternoon. Article content Article content 'Obviously, the Conservative opposition in the House (of Commons) supports this bill, as the opposition does in this chamber,' he said, before criticizing current Liberals who were in his party's view a 'little bit overzealous' under Justin Trudeau's government in putting in place 'impediments and red tape' for projects in the energy sector. Article content Article content Freeland thanked Housakos for 'recognizing and highlighting that Conservatives are supporting this legislation' and went on to say how proud she was as finance minister to have completed the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline which she said will add $1.25 billion to government coffers this year alone. Article content Bill C-5 would give the federal government sweeping powers for five years to quickly approve natural resource and infrastructure projects once cabinet deems them to be in the national interest, as well as break down internal trade barriers and make it easier for workers to work in other provinces. Article content Conservatives had so far hinted that they were in favour of the bill, which aligns with many of their election commitments, but had not confirmed that they would be voting for it. Article content 'Of course, we Conservatives hope the government can show Canadians that big, audacious, nation-building projects can get approved and built in competitive timelines by the private sector, not by taxpayers,' said Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs, who is the party's energy and natural resources critic, in a speech in the House last week. Article content Stubbs said she expects Liberals to 'fix' C-5 and 'make it transparent, clear and certain.' Amendments include adding a clear definition of what is in the 'national interest,' a concrete two-year timeline between the final decision by cabinet on a project and its completion and ensuring project deliverables are achieved on time and on budget. Article content Liberal MP Judy Sgro defended her government's decision to fast-track the legislation, saying that 'it's an opportunity for Canada to really become the economic engine that we know it can be in consultation with all of the various groups that matter to us.'
National Post
12-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
'We need to move': Liberals defend plan to ram through major projects bill before Canada Day
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is coming under fire for its plan to push its internal trade and major projects bill through the House of Commons next week at high speed. Article content Government House leader Steven MacKinnon has put a motion on notice that would push Bill C-5 through the House of Commons by the end of next week at an unusually rapid pace — leaving only a few hours to hear from civil society groups, stakeholders and experts. Article content Article content Article content If the motion is adopted, it would quickly move through debate at second reading stage and a vote, after which the bill would be referred to a House of Commons committee. Article content Article content Members of the committee would meet Tuesday and Wednesday to gather evidence from witnesses, before undertaking a clause-by-clause consideration of the legislation. Article content The expectation would be for the committee's report to be presented to the House on Thursday, and debate and a vote at third reading to happen on Friday — which is the last calendar day before all MPs will be going back to their respective ridings for the summer. C-5 would grant the government sweeping powers to quickly approve major natural resource and infrastructure projects once cabinet deems them to be in the national interest. Article content The legislation also looks to break down internal trade barriers and make it easier for workers to take jobs in other provinces. Article content MacKinnon rejected a call from the Bloc Québécois this week to split the landmark legislation in two — so the House could speed through the less contentious internal-trade provisions while putting the controversial major projects portion under the microscope. Article content Article content Luc Berthold, the deputy House leader for the Conservatives, declined to say if his party would support the fast-tracking of C-5 and said discussions between all parties were ongoing. Article content 'When a minority government decides it wants certain things, it needs to negotiate with all parties. So, we're awaiting the result of these negotiations,' he said on Thursday. Article content Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet said his party would oppose the motion 'with vigour.' Article content 'The kind of impetuosity from the prime minister to supercharge the legislative agenda in the short term and to bypass, from the very start of his mandate, the usual parliamentary rules are a matter of concern,' said Blanchet in French during a press conference. Article content 'I would respectfully suggest that Mr. Carney's entourage inform him that one is not supposed to work in such a cavalier manner when facing a Parliament fresh from the oven,' he added.
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Liberals to cut short study of bill to speed up resource project approvals
Leader of the government in the House of Commons Steven MacKinnon rises during question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, June 6, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — The Liberal government in Ottawa is signalling it plans to push its internal trade and major projects bill through the House of Commons next week at high speed. Government House leader Steven MacKinnon has put a motion on notice that would push the bill through the House of Commons by the end of next week at an unusually rapid pace — leaving just one day to hear from civil society groups, stakeholders and experts. Bill C-5 would grant the government sweeping powers to quickly approve major natural resource and infrastructure projects once cabinet deems them to be in the national interest. The legislation also looks to break down internal trade barriers and make it easier for workers to take jobs in other provinces. MacKinnon rejected a call from the Bloc Québécois this week to split the landmark legislation in two — so the House could speed through the less contentious internal-trade provisions while putting the controversial major projects portion under the microscope. Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed repeatedly to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day, 19 days from now. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025. Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
