CanWaCH is pleased to provide a summary for our members of the implications of recent political developments.
On January 6, 2025, Prime Minister Trudeau announced he will resign as Liberal leader but will remain Prime Minister until a new leader is chosen. Additionally, he announced Governor General Mary Simon granted his request to prorogue parliament until March 24, 2025.
Prorogation halts the current session of parliament. However, unlike dissolving Parliament (which leads to an election), prorogation just stops the session temporarily. When Parliament resumes on March 24, it will start fresh with a new Speech from the Throne.
During prorogation, all House of Commons and Senate business is halted, including legislation and committee work. All outstanding pieces of legislation, committee studies, order paper questions and other parliamentary business before the House and Senate are cleared. The one general exception is private members’ bills originating in the House of Commons, which are normally reinstated after prorogation at the stage it was in the previous session.
Yes. Government departments and the public service continue to work through prorogation, delivering on government programs and policies. For specific questions about ongoing GAC projects, speak with your Project Team Lead (PTL).
Yes. Ministers retain their powers through this period and can continue to bind the Government of Canada to contractual agreements.
Larger funding announcements that require new funds beyond existing envelopes, may require future parliamentary approvals through the estimates process.
It is worth checking in with your Project Team Lead (PTL) or other GAC representative to ensure they have all the information they require. You can also check for updates in the GAC Partner Portal. Ministers will retain their authority and can continue to approve agreements throughout this prorogation period.
Yes. Prime Minister Trudeau’s resignation does not trigger the ‘caretaker convention’, which limits the government to only handling routine matters and urgent issues. Ministers retain their powers and responsibilities, and departments will continue to move the government’s agenda forward. There are no additional restrictions on lobbying or advocacy during this time.
With Canada’s G7 presidency underway, planning and preparation for Kananaskis are advancing. The surest reality is that a new Prime Minister will represent Canada at the Leader’s Summit in June. While officials are preparing for any eventuality — a new Liberal Prime Minister, a Conservative Prime Minister, or an election-period summit — they will also be focusing on the Ministerial and officials level engagement opportunities to move the agenda forward.
You may find your organization engaged by leadership campaigns or candidates, either to provide formal expertise to their policy agendas or to comment as third-party validators. These engagements should be carefully considered to ensure they align with your organization’s broader advocacy objectives. Further, it is important to consider any implications that it may have on your organization’s requirements under the Lobbying Act. If you are unsure, consult with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying to ensure you are fully complainant.
The Liberal Party of Canada will use this period of prorogation to select a new leader. The Party has announced that its next leadership vote will be March 8, 2025, and the next Prime Minister will be announced that same day.
In the rules set out by the party, Liberal Leadership Candidates must declare their participation in the race by January 23, 2025, and only registered Liberals who have signed up as party members by January 27, 2025, will be eligible to vote.
With the Liberal leadership race imminent, it is possible that there will be another cabinet shuffle. While it’s not legally required, cabinet ministers choose to resign from their ministerial role when running for leadership.
Currently, the Minister of International Development is not expected to run for party leadership, and it is unlikely that he would be involved in the shuffle.
Current notable candidates include former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England Mark Carney and Minister Karina Gould current Government House Leader and former Minister of International Development, with more potentially coming forward.
When Parliament returns on March 24, the Government, through the Governor General, will present its vision for the country in a Speech from the Throne. The new Prime Minister will be looking to demonstrate its core commitments to Canadians. Once in place, the new session of Parliament could last days to weeks before the Government is forced to seek the confidence of the house. A vote of non-confidence would lead to the Government resigning, thus triggering an election.
Presuming opposition parties do not change their current positions, Canadians will likely be heading to the polls in May or June 2025.
Published:
January 15, 2025
Author:
CanWaCH
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