The Bloc Québécois has asked the Liberal government not to split its flagship legislation in half and allow a portion of it to move quickly through the House of Commons this summer. The free trade and labor mobility in Canada act, also known as Bill C-5, was introduced on Friday. It is split in two. The Liberals have pledged to address internal trade barriers by July 1 in the first section. In the second section, significant modifications are proposed to expedite major project approvals. The Bloc demanded a separate study of the modifications to major project reviews, but argued that the legislation’s internal trade component could be passed relatively quickly with broad support from the House of Commons. At a press conference on Monday, Bloc deputy leader Christie Normandin stated, “The bill as it is now would be sent to the transport committee, whereas if it were to be split it could be sent to two different committees, the second one being environment.” Government House leader Steven MacKinnon stated on Wednesday that the Liberals will not split the legislation, even if doing so would ensure that the government meets its own self-imposed deadline to address interprovincial trade barriers. On his way into a meeting of the Liberal caucus, MacKinnon said, “This is a bill that responds to economic conditions caused by the tariff war, among other things, and mobilizes premiers, mobilizes Canadians from coast to coast to coast behind projects of national significance.” The legislation would grant the federal government vast new powers to advance projects that have been deemed to be in the national interest.
Liberals won’t split internal trade, major projects bill despite Bloc call
