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After marathon session, MPs head home, leaving pot bill in limbo

There are lots of ways to hold up a vote on a piece of legislation. The U.S. Congress is very adept at doing this – especially if one party has the majority. But tactics to prevent a vote are also used in Canada’s House of Commons.

The filibuster that resulted in an overnighter for MPs was sparked by Conservative’s demands for the federal government to release details on how much a carbon tax will cost Canadians. The end result was a big fat zero.

It all started on Thursday with an opposition motion from Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre. He came right out and said during his opening speech that the party planned a filibuster. That could be why some MPs were seen bringing in overnight bags, snacks, and blankets, according to CTV News Canada.

Following 200 voting sessions in 12 hours – and worded so as to make each vote a vote of confidence, forcing the Liberals to keep a full bench present to make sure they won each one, the MPs finally called it a day and went home.

Marijuana legalization bill
They will have to return on Monday to vote on the amendments made by the Senate to Bill C-45, the government’s legislation to legalize recreational marijuana use. This means it will be Monday before the bill could head back to the Senate.

Parliament Hill  Ottawa

Parliament Hill, Ottawa
Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States


And depending on how the Senate responds to the government’s refusal to accept all the amendments, Bill C-45 could end up getting thrown back and forth between the two legislative bodies before anything gets done.

There is also Bill C-46 to consider. This bill has to do with drug-impaired driving and was passed by the Senate with amendments on Thursday, forcing the bill back to the House for consideration of the changes. It will go along pretty much the same route that Bill C-45 has taken.

There are also other priority government bills to be addressed before the House and Senate adjourn for the summer. They include Bill C-59, regarding national security; Bill C-64 on abandoned vessels; Bill C-69 which deals with environmental assessments; and Bill C-71, the government’s gun reform legislation.

And whether anyone likes it or not, the Conservatives are not going to back down on their demands. And it is not just about the carbon tax, either. The marijuana bill is in a tenuous position right now.


In a recent interview, Trudeau told reporters that “Andrew Scheer, the Conservative leader has been telling…Senators — that he still controls – to play games, to slow this down, and to interfere with the will of the House.”

Sen. Yuen Pau Woo, leader of the Independent Senators Group told CTV News, “it’s not about what kind of partisan points we can score, it’s about trying to come to a decision that’s consistent with the totality of the job that we have to do.”

The Senator added that Independent Senators were “disappointed” the government did not accept the amendments and “they want to hear a full explanation of why” the government opposed the amendments.

It’s beginning to look like any further debate between the two chambers of Parliament could postpone the debut of legal marijuana in Canada indefinitely.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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