Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, reduction in spending by the Governor General of Canada, creation of a register on foreign influence activities… The duty has listed the 15 petitions having collected the most signatures in the House of Commons this year.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza, although it took place this fall, was the subject of the two most signed petitions of the year in Ottawa. The electronic petition from NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice, calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, has become the most popular in the history of Parliament to have been tabled in the House.
In one month, more than 286,719 people gave their support to the text, which notably demanded that Canada demand an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and asked Israel “to lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip “.
The New Democratic Party (NDP) was the first party in the House of Commons to call for a ceasefire, followed by the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois. The Trudeau government finally voted for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” during a UN General Assembly, after two and a half months of hesitation.
Among the most signed petitions, the second went in the same direction, asking the government to “play a leading role in promoting an immediate ceasefire”. The petition sponsored by Liberal MP Salma Zahid has collected more than 11,700 signatures.
The expenses of the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon, were the subject of the third most supported petition in 2023.
The petition sponsored by the Bloc Québécois indicates that “Quebecers and Canadians expect to see their taxes used and managed conscientiously and in a socially responsible manner, which is not respected by the current expenditures linked to the office of governor ( (e) general”.
In particular, it is proposed to award a taxable annual salary of $50,000 to Mme Simon, to cap the amount allocated to his clothing needs at $12,000 per year and to prohibit any travel outside of Canada.
The Bloc Québécois has repeatedly denounced the Governor General’s spending since her appointment, which it has described as “futile and exorbitant.” In 2022, she earned a salary of $342,100.
More than 9,200 people supported the petition, which was tabled in the House on December 5.
What follows is a petition with 5,200 signatures proposing to create a foreign influence monitoring register, following revelations regarding China’s interference in Canada earlier this year.
Another historic petition
This year has been one of all records. A recent petition asking the House of Commons to hold a vote of no confidence in the Trudeau government and precipitate a federal election also received historic support.
The petition sponsored by Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri had collected more than 340,144 signatures as of Sunday. When it is tabled in the House after the holidays, it will in turn become the most signed electronic petition in the history of the House of Commons.
The text stipulates in particular that “citizens of Canada [ont] lost confidence in Justin Trudeau and the Liberal/NDP coalition.” The holding of a vote of no confidence in the government and the holding of an election 45 days after the vote, if it is won, are also requested.
Signatures are open until December 24, after which the Conservative must submit it to the House of Commons. The government must provide a response within 45 days of filing.
The signatures, however numerous they may be, will not trigger an election anytime soon. “The figures are symbolic,” admitted the conservative MP in a video on her social networks. “But they are important, because they raise your voice and send the message that you are unhappy,” she continues.
And even if a vote of no confidence took place, the agreement between the Liberal Party of Canada (PLC) and the New Democratic Party (NDP) still holds.
At the heart of their agreement was a bill on universal drug insurance. The Liberals were supposed to present this project to the House of Commons by the end of the year to maintain the agreement, but agreed to a new deadline of 1er March.
Thanks to their agreement of support and trust, the minority Liberals can remain in power until 2025.
More than 130,200 signatories (40%) are located in Ontario, while 16,112 Quebecers (less than 5%) supported the petition as of December 15 — the last day of the parliamentary session in Ottawa. The work of the House of Commons will resume on January 29, 2024.