Parliament returns on Sept. 15. Here are some observations (and questions) that could prove pivotal in the fall legislative session: Read MoreNew ministers, the return of Pierre Poilievre, the rise of the Senate, the fall of the NDP — and a federal budget: where will it lead?
New ministers, the return of Pierre Poilievre, the rise of the Senate, the fall of the NDP — and a federal budget: where will it lead?
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Parliament returns on Sept. 15. Here are some observations (and questions) that could prove pivotal in the fall legislative session:
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Pierre Poilievre takes his (Alberta) seat and so do newbie ministers.
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Question period will be must-see CPAC TV as the sparks fly between the prime minister and the leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. Both have Alberta roots. Beyond that, a substantial part of the ministry is new. Some ministers are also new to Parliament. How will they respond to a barrage of questions from seasoned critics on the opposition benches?
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Parliamentary committees on a roll.
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No one believes that parliamentary committees are poised to become meek, but will the temperature drop noticeably with a fresh mandate or could it become even hotter, at least for the Liberals, who may find that they miss having the NDP as a committee ally? It will be interesting to see how the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois use their weight in committees to amend proposed legislation to their liking and embarrass the government. This sharpens the strategic choice for the Carney government: When should it use legislation to advance its agenda and when might it try to use other instruments such as existing policy or programs?
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And speaking of the NDP …
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No official party status means reduced resourcing and no formal seats on committees. How will New Democrats use their (reduced) space in Parliament and will anyone notice? The NDP leadership vote is March 29, 2026, and that may seem like an eternity away.
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Quebec issues jump up in the agenda.
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A Quebec election is coming in a year. The end of the provincial mandate could be anything but sleepy and key issues could easily move onto the national scene. Will the Bloc’s voice boom louder in tandem with provincial electoral drumbeats? With federal cabinet ministers from Quebec in key economic portolios (Finance and Industry), we can expect the debate over who speaks for Quebec to be highly contested.
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The Senate, sober and loud.
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Will the fall policy agenda have implications for the other chamber? With the Carney government tacking to the centre and with the absence of a strong progressive voice on the opposition side of the House, Senate groups such as the Progressive Senate Group (PSG) or the Independent Senators Group (ISG) may feel compelled to take on a more prominent and vocal role.
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While it is unlikely to fully come to a head this early in the mandate, some pressure to course-correct to the left might even come from the progressive wing within the Liberal caucus. Whether this pressure can be contained within the caucus long-term remains to be seen. On this, the newly formed Liberal environmental caucus could be a harbinger of future tension within Liberal ranks.
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