One afternoon earlier this month, Charlie Angus stood in the House of Commons to lament.
“Mr. Speaker, I always say what a great honour it is to rise in a House such as this, chosen by the people of Timmins—James Bay,” the NDP MP said. “But I have to say that I am less and less proud every time I am asked to stand up, because I do not know how to tell young Canadians to believe in democracy when they watch this dismal gong show day after day.”
Angus, who is not seeking re-election, has made a recent habit of comparing the proceedings in Parliament to the absurdist American game show of the 1970s and 80s.
Complaining about the state of the House of Commons is something of a tradition in Canada. But it might be hard to find anyone right now who is willing to disagree with Angus. That the House is “dysfunctional” might be the one thing on which all parties agree, even if they disagree on who is to blame.
It’s too late now to get things back on track for 2024. But will Parliament be any more functional in 2025?
Why the House of Commons is stuck
Angus was speaking just days after Conservatives and New Democrats traded accusations of drunkenness and intimidation in the House. But the primary cause of dysfunction this fall has been the Conservative filibuster, which has now hamstrung the House for two and a half months.
The Conservatives argue that their actions are justified and grounded in high principles. Parliament has ordered the government to produce documents related to a troubled green technology fund; the government has so far refused to fully comply. The Conservatives say they’re obstructing the government’s legislative agenda in the spirit of parliamentary accountability.
“The right to order the production of documents is fundamental to the proper functioning of Parliament,” Conservative MP Michael Chong said in a speech last month.
But the argument in favour of the filibuster is complicated by two facts. First, the Conservatives are actually filibustering their own motion, which proposed that the dispute be sent to a House committee for further consideration.
Second, the order passed by Parliament called for the documents to be turned over not to MPs, but to the RCMP —