Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is threatening to use the tricks of parliamentary procedure to delay the Commons passage of the budget if the Liberals do not meet his demands.
But Liberal House Leader Mark Holland said the government would not back down from threats from the Tories.
“We will continue to work despite their childish tactics. They can ride a tricycle in the Parliament if they want. But we will do Parliament’s job,” Mr Holland told reporters on Monday.
At a news conference earlier Monday morning, Poilievre set out two conditions to avoid potential Conservative filibuster in the House.
He asks the government to present a plan to balance its budget “in order to bring down inflation and interest rates”. It also demands that the Liberals reverse any future increases in carbon pricing.
Poilievre argued that by cutting spending, the federal government could make it easier for the Bank of Canada to fight inflation. In turn, this would allow the central bank to cut interest rates more quickly, he said.
“If the government fails to respond to these demands, we will use every procedural tool at our disposal to prevent passage of the budget,” Poilievre said. Those tools include tabling amendments to the bill and long speeches, he said.
Adjournment for the summer
The Tory leader’s threat comes as MPs prepare for the summer adjournment on June 23. MPs attend extended sittings every day until midnight to get bills passed before that break.
Mr Holland, responsible for coordinating with other parties on bills in Parliament, said the delaying tactics had already begun and he accused Tory MPs of faking technical difficulties last Friday. “It is a hijacking of Parliament,” he said.
The House leader for the Liberals indicated Monday that MPs will continue to sit until the budget implementation bill is passed.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also downplayed the threat posed by Mr. Poilievre. “The Conservative leader has no plan for the economy, only offers cuts. »
Trudeau said blocking the bill would be tantamount to blocking financial support for Canadians, including improvements to the Canada Workers Benefit. “These are real consequences for the political and partisan games played by the Leader of the Official Opposition,” said Mr. Trudeau.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled the 2023 budget in March after promising to limit spending plans given that inflation is still high.
However, fiscal projections show no end in sight for federal deficits, even though last fall’s economic and fiscal update predicted a return to balance in 2027-2028.
Following the release of the federal and provincial budgets, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said that while government spending won’t help slow inflation, it won’t push it up either. other peaks.