In his resignation speech on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Parliament would be prorogued until March 24. The move will give the Liberal Party time to find a new leader before an expected vote of confidence that could trigger early elections in 2025.
“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, competitive, nationwide process.“Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Monday.”This country deserves a real choice in the next election and it has become clear to me that if I have to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best choice in those elections.“.
What is extension?
Prorogation is a procedural tool that essentially stops the work of Parliament while allowing the government to remain in power. During a prorogation period, Members of Parliament do not meet in the House of Commons, the work of their committees is suspended, and pending bills that have not yet become law are terminated.
The most recent parliamentary session was scheduled to resume after its winter recess on Jan. 27, after which Trudeau’s minority government could have quickly faced a motion of no confidence from opposition parties that would have triggered a federal election. .
“The prorogation of a session ends all proceedings before Parliament,” explains the House of Commons procedural guide. “Generally, during a prorogation, MPs are released from their parliamentary duties until, in the new session, the House and its committees resume activities.”
By proroguing parliament until March 24, Trudeau is essentially buying time for his embattled party to hold a leadership race before the federal Conservative and NDP parties can topple the Liberal government, which has been in power since 2015. As polls showed his popularity plummeting, Trudeau has faced growing calls for him to resign within his own party.
What happens next?
Technically, the Governor-General prorogues Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister. Because it only stops parliamentary activity, prorogation is different from the “dissolution” of parliament, which automatically triggers a general election. Unfinished bills that have been canceled by extension may be reintroduced in the next parliamentary session. Until then, many unfulfilled government promises will remain in limbo.
The co-founder of Democracy Watch, a nonprofit organization that advocates for democratic reform and government accountability, criticized Trudeau’s move.
“Because a prorogation cancels all the bills that Parliament is reviewing, it can waste all the time and taxpayer money that went into developing and reviewing those bills,” Duff Conacher told CTVNews.ca. “Because a prorogation stops the daily question period in the House of Commons and in House and Senate committee meetings, it also allows the government to avoid responsibility for its decisions and actions and any irregularities. Both effects “They harm our democratic process while protecting the party ruling.”
Trudeau previously prorogued Parliament in August 2020 as his government mapped out a COVID-19 recovery plan while also dealing with the WE Charity scandal.
Trudeau’s advisers had received legal guidance that March 24 was the longest the government could go without approving new spending. The upcoming parliamentary session will begin with a throne speech outlining the government’s intentions and priorities, which would also set the stage for key confidence votes.
With files from CTV News national correspondent Rachel Aiello
