Liberals Call for Extended House Sitting Hours

Tories say move would undermine government accountability

Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Mark Holland speaks about the upcoming session during a news conference on Parliament Hill, Sept. 20, 2022 in Ottawa. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press

The Liberal government is calling to extend House of Commons hours to allow for evening sittings citing legislative obstruction from the Conservatives.

The Tories say the move to extend hours is an “excuse” to undermine government accountability at parliamentary committees.

“Conservatives continue to obstruct legislation from coming to a vote,” Liberal House Leader Mark Holland wrote in a Twitter post on Nov. 10.

“The government intends to move a motion to ensure Canadians get results from their MPs. Our motion will allow for evening sittings so there is more time to debate legislation.”

Typical sitting hours for the House are between about 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on days other than Monday and Friday, on which days the House convenes and adjourns at earlier times than usual. The House also convenes at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.

“Conservatives say they want more time to debate before voting,” Holland wrote. “This would allow that.”

‘Killing Accountability’

Opposition House Leader Andrew Scheer responded to Holland’s obstruction accusations on Twitter, saying the Liberals’ move to extend sitting hours is an “excuse to shut down committees” investigating “Liberal corruption and waste.”

“Don’t be fooled by Liberal spin doctors. This is about killing accountability by stealth. Every time the House sits longer, committees get canceled. This motion takes precious resources away from committees investigating Liberal corruption and waste. That’s what this is all about,” Scheer wrote on Nov. 10.

“Trudeau doesn’t like it when committees investigate his $54 million ArriveCan scandal, or why he has done nothing about foreign interference from Beijing in our elections, or which Liberal friends got rich off pandemic spending. So he’s made up an excuse to shut down committees.”

The House will resume sitting on Nov. 14 for four weeks until it adjourns for the Christmas break.

The House is currently on a week-long break, during which time MPs usually return to their constituencies. Holland said the motion to extend hours will stay in effect until June 2023 if it passes.