After apology, timely passage of bill unlikely

• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized “unreservedly” Thursday for his “poor choices” the day before, as the government retreated from plans to give cabinet unprecedented power over the House of Commons.

But Trudeau wasn’t completely in the clear — MPs agreed to send the matter to an all-party committee that will study what happened and consider possible punishments.

At the same time, it appears the prime minister has derailed the very thing he was trying to hurry along when he crossed the floor to drag Conservative MP Gord Brown to his seat and accidentally elbowed New Democratic Party MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau: the passage of Bill C-14, the government’s assisted dying legislation.

A contrite Trudeau apolo- gized to Brown, Brosseau and all MPs for his actions on Wednesday evening.

“Members rightfully expect better behaviour from anyone in this House,” he said. “I expect better behaviour from myself.

“The way members behave in this House is important. It is important because we are here to serve Canadians, and Canadians deserve to have their concerns expressed fully and fairly in a direct and dignified manner. I know and I regret that my behaviour yesterday failed to meet this standard.”

Opposition MPs welcomed what they described as the prime minister’s heartfelt apology. But they say he failed to address the root of the problem: his government’s lack of respect for Parliament and accused the Liberals of trying to rewrite the rules to strip the opposition of its powers.

The two sides have been locked in a bitter battle for weeks. Liberals accused the opposition of playing dirty tricks to hold up important legislation, including Bill C-14. The opposition says the government has been stifling debate and trying to ram legislation through.

Tensions skyrocketed after the Conservatives and NDP forced a rare Mondaymorning snap vote the Liberals barely survived. Tuesday, government House leader Dominic LeBlanc said he would introduce a motion to give the government significant new powers in the House.

These included letting cabinet unilaterally extend sitting hours, strict limits on opposition motions, often used as a way for opposition parties to delay the government’s agenda, and making it more difficult for opposition parties to call a snap vote.

LeBlanc said the motion was required to increase debate and ensure the government’s proposed legislation gets voted on. That includes Bill C-14, which it wants passed by the Supreme Court’s June 6 deadline.

But opposition parties said the motion would effectively strip them of their ability to hold the government to account, and demanded Trudeau withdraw it to show his sincerity.

“He is stripping (us) of our jobs,” interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose said. “We have a job to do in the House, and we take it seriously. If he truly respects the role of the opposition, and the role of every member … then he has to withdraw the motion.”

Trudeau sidestepped the issue, promising only to work with the other parties “to improve the way we function.” Several hours later, however, LeBlanc announced the government was withdrawing the motion, although it still wants C-14 passed by June 6.

Ironically, Trudeau may have made that all but im- possible. A final vote on Bill C-14 was planned for Thursday, after which it would go to the Senate. Instead, opposition MPs were spent most of the day debating whether Trudeau violated Brosseau and Brown’s rights.

With MPs off next week, the earliest they can pass C-14 now is May 31, presuming debate is kept to an absolute minimum. The Senate would then have one week to study and pass the bill before it receives Royal Assent. One Liberal MP said such a feat will be nearly impossible.

One thing MPs did vote Thursday was to have a parliamentary committee consider whether Trudeau violated any parliamentary rules, and whether he should be punished. NDP MP David Christopherson, a committee member, expects the matter to come up on May 31.

“Given the fact that the prime minister has pled, ‘I’m guilty,’ ” the question will be whether his apology is sufficient,” Christopherson said, adding although the Liberals have a majority on the committee, “they’re going to have a hard time sweeping it under the rug.”

However, he suggested Trudeau could get off scotfree. “At the end of the day, they’re going to use their majority as it serves their interests.”

MEMBERS RIGHTFULLY EXPECT BETTER BEHAVIOUR FROM ANYONE IN THIS HOUSE.