OTTAWA - Green Party Leader Elizabeth May has written to all federal party leaders urging them to work together during Parliament’s prorogation to salvage critical legislation that risks being lost. With the House of Commons suspended, essential bills addressing affordability, housing, clean drinking water, and climate action remain stalled, leaving Canadians waiting for solutions to urgent challenges.
"The decision to prorogue Parliament has left Canadians in a precarious position," said Elizabeth May. "Rather than letting vital legislation die on the Order Paper, I have asked my colleagues across party lines to collaborate and prioritize the reintroduction of these bills. Even as partisan politics shifts to high gear for an election, we can demonstrate to Canadians that our democracy can deliver results."
Proroguing Parliament effectively ends the current session, killing all bills that were in progress. May’s letter calls for a cooperative approach during this downtime to identify priority legislation that has broad cross-party support. By securing consensus, these bills can be included in the Speech from the Throne and receive expedited passage when Parliament resumes.
"I hope all leaders will agree that the work done on key bills must not go to waste," said May. "From addressing critical issues like ensuring clean drinking water on First Nations reserves, ending the export of thermal coal and tackling ecological damage from marine shipments in Bill C-33, to fixing long-standing injustices for Lost Canadians in Bill C-71, and advancing portions of Bill C-63 to remove images shared without consent from websites, these are matters with broad support. We must also move forward on the Conservative Senator Fabian Manning's bill addressing intimate partner violence, among others. These are pressing issues that demand collaborative action."
"Prorogation means progress on critical issues has been halted, leaving folks in communities like mine waiting yet again,” said MP Mike Morrice. "Elizabeth’s call for party leaders to work across party lines would ensure the hard work on bills like these is not lost. It’s a huge opportunity to put people ahead of politics, and deliver real results for Canadians."
The Green Party emphasized that prorogation comes at a time when Canadians are grappling with mounting economic and social challenges, including tariff threats from the United States and ongoing housing and affordability crisis.
It would be a waste of public resources to abandon legislation that has already undergone committee review and amendments. Canadians deserve action, not delays, and this is a chance for all parties to rise above partisan divides and deliver results.
The Green Party remains committed to advocating for bold, collaborative solutions to the challenges facing Canadians and urges the government and opposition parties to prioritize cooperation during this critical time.
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Fabrice Lachance Nové
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