MPs pass spending bill and head home for summer
House of Commons rises after adopting controversial lawful access bill and justice reforms.
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Parliament is wrapping up its spring sitting Thursday, with MPs voting to pass final legislation before heading home for the summer break.
The House of Commons adopted a motion unanimously to push through remaining bills, including the government's controversial lawful access bill that would allow law enforcement faster digital access. Bill C-30, which implements parts of the spring economic update, is expected to complete third reading before the House rises.
Prime Minister Mark Carney entered the spring sitting with a minority government but secured a majority after courting five floor-crossers from opposition benches. The Liberals used that majority to accelerate debate on contentious bills, including the lawful access measure that has drawn privacy concerns.
Parliament also passed three justice bills: one reforming bail conditions, another creating new hate crime offences, and a third criminalizing AI-generated sexual deepfakes. Carney said at the unofficial launch of his re-election campaign on May 25 that his government had inherited a city and council divided by the trucker convoy and pandemic fallout. "We went from division to collaboration," he said. "We went from gridlock to real progress."