Federal deputies continued their voting marathon on Friday, imposed by the Conservatives, after spending the night there, eating hamburgers or writing their Christmas cards.
Uninterrupted voting on each of the government’s 135 budget spending measures, which is taking place in person and online, began at 6 p.m. Thursday. This unexpected marathon in the parliamentary calendar pushed other items on the Commons agenda on Friday until next week.
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer warned Friday that his party will not give up unless the Liberal government removes federal carbon pricing for residential heating, agricultural activities and Indigenous people.
“The carbon tax is really hurting Canadian families as we approach the Christmas season,” he said. More and more Canadians are faced with the tragic choice of heating their homes or putting food on the table. »
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was present in the House overnight for the votes. He reiterated Friday that his government would no longer grant exemptions for carbon pricing, as it did for residential oil heating at the end of October.
Government House Leader Karina Gould maintains that what the Conservatives are doing is stupid and will lead to nothing.
By the end of the vote on Friday evening, MPs will have worked for more than 24 hours. Many stayed up all night reading books, eating burgers, watching TV shows on their tablets or browsing social media.
Around 1 a.m. Friday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre joined his House caucus after attending a fundraising event in Quebec, where he also marked the first day of Hanukkah by attending the lighting of the menorah in a Montreal synagogue.
He arrived in the Commons with two large bags of fast food while his caucus chanted party slogans, before the Deputy Speaker of the House called them to order.
Christmas reading and cards
On the Liberal side, coffee and tea energized many MPs, Leader Gould said Friday. “I almost finished signing my Christmas cards during the evening,” she said.
On Friday afternoon, International Trade Minister Mary Ng sat on a front bench, wrapped in a blanket and watching a program on her tablet, fighting sleep with a constant stream of yawns.
Health Minister Mark Holland was reading a novel, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by VE Schwab. His Labor colleague Seamus O’Regan was also seen in the House with a stack of books.
Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who had just arrived from Dubai, where he attended COP28, were seen waving after one of the votes.
As the 24 hours of back-to-back votes approached, some MPs took off their shoes.
Poilievre thanks his troops
In a speech to his caucus in the middle of the night and published on X, Mr. Poilievre acknowledged that this marathon vote was difficult. “I want to thank you all for the energy you are devoting,” he said Friday morning. I know it’s not easy. It’s extra time away from family, it’s hard on your health, but we have to make our point. We have said we will fight to remove the tax. »
NDP House Leader Peter Julian promised his party would continue to do its job in Parliament, saying the lost day of work in the Commons cost $1 million.
He attacked the Conservatives for voting against billions allocated to a wide variety of budget measures, including settlements with First Nations, defense spending and funding for agencies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Alexandra Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress advocacy group, said Conservative MPs undermined support for Ukraine a second time by voting against a budget item that would allocate money to support its war effort .
The organization had already condemned the Conservatives for voting against a bill that would implement the update of the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement. The Conservatives argued they voted against the bill because of the wording of the agreement which would see the two countries promote carbon pricing.
Despite forced Conservative votes, all government funding is expected to pass – albeit 24 hours later than originally planned.