MP for Moose Jaw – Lake Centre – Lanigan
#1 - 54 Stadacona Street W,
Moose Jaw, SK S6H 1Z1
Email: donna.dowler.655@parl.gc.ca
Mobile: 306.570.7060
The other day, Justin Trudeau was talking about the “toxic,” “partisan” and “unproductive” nature of politics. I’m not sure how he would know, since he spent little time in Parliament during the pandemic, but his comments don’t line up with what I saw in the most recent session of Parliament. Although I’m sure the Liberals didn’t like it, there were numerous examples in this minority Parliament of the opposition parties passing legislation for the benefit of Canada.
Conservative MP Phillip Lawrence introduced a bill to remove the carbon tax from farm fuel purchases, which was passed with cooperation from other opposition parties.
All parties in Parliament, except the Liberal cabinet, passed a Conservative motion to condemn the Chinese genocide of the Uyghur people.
The Conservatives and NDP cooperated to pass a bill banning the export of non-recyclable plastic waste to Third World countries.
Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux introduced a bill to double compassionate bereavement leave for workers in federally regulated sectors who have lost a loved one. It passed unanimously.
The House also passed unanimously Conservative MP Len Webber’s bill to allow people to register as organ donors on their tax returns.
Finally, Conservative MP Larry Maguire introduced a bill that would reduce financial burdens of farm families to transfer their business to a family member. It would amend the Income Tax Act to make the tax charged on the sale of one of those businesses to a family member equal to what it would be charged if sold to a non-family member, which has a lower tax rate. In this case, we not only got all the other Opposition members to vote for it, but we even got a few Liberals to break ranks.
Far from being “toxic” and “unproductive,” this session of Parliament saw MPs from different parties working cooperatively together with the Conservatives taking the lead. We almost had a better track record at getting bills passed this session than the Liberals!
And that’s likely what lies at the heart of Trudeau’s insults. Parliament didn’t always do what he wanted. Parliament didn’t always jump when he snapped his fingers. No doubt this was frustrating for him, so while he found the environment toxic, many other Canadians did not.
At the bottom of it all, Trudeau’s words are just propaganda. He’s trying to set up an excuse to call an election. He’s trying to make it sound as though Parliament is hopelessly unproductive and needs a reset. But, as usual with Justin Trudeau, facts and reality don’t match his words.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
