New federal expenditures requiring approval from Parliament may face delays as routine business in the House of Commons remains stalled, warned Treasury Board President Anita Anand.
The Supplementary Estimates involve an increase in spending by $24.8 billion, with $21.6 billion requiring Parliament’s approval. The remaining $3.2 billion is already allocated for statutory expenditures.
Major allocations include $2.24 billion for First Nations and Inuit services, $970.8 million for public servants’ wage increases following negotiated adjustments, and $1.53 billion for military procurement.
Anand acknowledged the possibility that the estimates may not be adopted. “They need a vote to pass, and the government cannot simply bypass the House of Commons,” she emphasized.
Related Stories
The House of Commons has been in a state of standstill since late September, with no bills under consideration or being voted on.
“There is no voting taking place whatsoever,” remarked Anand. “This is unprecedented. We must proceed with these votes.”
On Sept. 26, House Speaker Greg Fergus allowed the opposition to introduce a question of privilege motion regarding the government’s failure to comply with a June House directive requesting the release of all documents related to the federal green fund, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).
Following the auditor general’s findings of conflicts of interest within SDTC, MPs decided to hand over the documents to the RCMP.
In response to the report, the federal government initiated the process of dissolving SDTC by transferring its programs to the National Research Council.
“They are withholding certain documents from the RCMP and redacting many of them,” he stated, referring to a letter from the House law clerk.
Scheer emphasized that it is the government’s responsibility to adhere to the House directive if it intends to proceed with other matters such as expenditure approvals.
“The Speaker has ruled that no other business can proceed until this directive is followed,” he explained. “The Trudeau Liberals are opting not to comply, so the ball is in their court.”
Government House Leader Karina Gould urged Conservatives on Nov. 19 to “stop playing their petty, partisan procedural games and allow us to focus on the work at hand.”
Gould mentioned that the government has already submitted nearly 29,000 pages of SDTC-related documents, ensuring compliance with the charter and protecting police independence and the separation of powers in the country.
Please provide me with an alternative version.
Source link
