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Commons votes to wrap for the holidays

By Kyle Duggan. --- Published on Dec 13, 2017



The House of Commons has decided it’s breaking for the holidays at the close of business today — two days ahead of schedule.

As of press time, members of Parliament were still debating Bill C-66 — the government’s bill to expunge the records of Canadians who were charged for having consensual same-sex relationships — and bringing forth petitions. But after question period this afternoon, the chamber agreed to a motion from Government House Leader Bardish Chagger that it rise and return in a month’s time.

According to the motion, MPs will return for more legislative action Monday, January 29, 2018.

The House is rising a few days ahead of schedule; it was originally slated to run until the end of the week, but it’s common that the Chamber will rise early. Determining when, exactly, MPs will decide to pack up for the holidays is notoriously hard to predict; although it’s often a clear sign when MPs break out the pre-QP Christmas poems.

It might have even come a bit early for the Prime Minister’s Office. Justin Trudeau’s itinerary, sent out late afternoon after the House gave unanimous consent to adjourn, listed that he will attend question period Thursday.

It marks the end of a raucous sitting where the Liberals found themselves dogged daily in question period by conflict of interest questions about the Finance Minister and his family business. But the governing party also capped the sitting on a bit of a high note by welcoming three new MPs to their weekly caucus meeting after winning federal byelections Monday – bringing their ranks up by one seat overall.

Meantime, MPs also confirmed three new nominees to become officers of Parliament Wednesday. They approved the new federal ethics, lobbying, and languages commissioners.

https://ipolitics.ca/2017/12/13/commons-votes-wrap-holidays/