Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Big City Mayors Caucus meeting, on Feb. 6, in Ottawa.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Let’s take a moment to appreciate how outrageous it is that Canada’s Parliament is not sitting during this critical time.
In three weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump could decide, because his breakfast eggs are too runny that morning, or he doesn’t like the look of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s face, that our efforts to secure the border have proven unsatisfactory. He could then plunge our economy into a recession, and our Parliamentarians will have to resort to the lowest chamber – social media – to speak on behalf of their constituents. All because the Liberals need time to choose between Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland.
It is a scandal, an abrogation of duty and the very definition of putting party before country. Mr. Trudeau recalled Parliament for an emergency session in March, 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to pass legislation to provide aid to out-of-work Canadians. In 2001, Parliament reconvened from summer recess early to address security threats following the attack on 9/11. But now, when our auto factories could shut down within a week and hundreds of thousands could be out of work, the Liberals have kept Parliament prorogued, presumably so they can review which caterer they might use backstage at a leadership debate.
The government’s defence is that it can still get things done without Parliament sitting: that Cabinet is still consulting with premiers and with labour and business leaders, and that it can implement some measures to provide relief to workers without Parliamentary approval. Liberals will also point out that Parliament was paralyzed in a standoff prior to prorogation (though they don’t often mention why) and that the House has just become a venue for grandstanding anyway. So why bother?
Well, for one, this 30-day reprieve could be used to, for example, pass emergency legislation to mitigate the risk of businesses moving to the U.S., which some are already considering, according to a survey by KPMG. That would likely necessitate massive tax incentives to counter the risk that Mr. Trump’s threats pose to Canada’s economy. But that sort of thing has to happen now, and through a functioning Parliament – not on March 24, when it is scheduled to reconvene.
Another equally important reason that Parliamentarians should be back in the legislature is this: it’s their job. In a time of national crisis, legislators should be at work, and Canadians should be able to see legislators at work. There are 338 MPs who have been elected to represent the distinct interests of their constituents, and during a crisis we should not underemphasize the importance of having a venue for Canadians to see their concerns aired. And if grandstanding is justification for proroguing Parliament now, then it is justification for proroguing Parliament forever (well, at least until the government needs more funding). We have a lower chamber to discuss precisely these matters of national interest.
But wait – won’t opposition parties bring down the government immediately if it is recalled?
Well, probably. But Mr. Trudeau could try to flip the script: ask the opposition to hold off on bringing down the government until after Mr. Trump’s 30-day deadline, for the good of the country. Make it a matter of national pride, harnessing the groundswell of patriotism that has emerged in response to Mr. Trump’s threats. Mr. Trudeau could claim that by recalling Parliament, he is putting country before party (extremely belatedly) and ask that opposition parties get onside “Team Canada” with him. To call an election now, he could insist, would be to put narrow partisan interests before the welfare of Canadians.
It would be incredibly shameless – cartoonishly so – but the Liberals haven’t been above such brazen gaslighting before in their near-decade of governance. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is still living in November, 2024, would nevertheless call for his “carbon tax election,” but NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh might actually go for it (how much does his party have to lose at this point, really?)
And if we do go to an election anyway: so be it. Canada already essentially has a caretaker government with a lame-duck leader that is unable to pass legislation. An election campaign would indeed add an extra layer of chaos, but it would at least better reflect the will of a majority of Canadians. No one outside of Liberal circles asked for Parliament to be prorogued.
I’m dreaming, obviously. The Liberals would never risk it, so Parliament will remain in limbo while we gird our loins for Mr. Trump’s next Truth Social post. It’s understandable that with so much going on, Canadians might overlook the fact that the Prime Minister has shut down our Parliament for the most repugnantly self-serving, crassly partisan reason. But we shouldn’t.
It’s our Parliament, not his. And in a time of national crisis, it should be operating for us.