The Impact of COVID-19 on the Future of Governance in Canada

During the extraordinary conditions created during the COVID-19 crisis, the Liberal minority government made deals with the New Democratic Party (NDP), Bloc Québécois, and the Green Party that had the effect of reducing the ability of Parliament to hold the executive to account by eliminating key levers of power at the opposition’s disposal and by limiting the frequency of House of Commons sitting. [...] This episode raises serious questions about the nature and scope of multi-party agreements, the relationship of the executive to the legislative branch, and the role of Parliament in crises; all of which merit further investigation and research in the future. [...] During the extraordinary conditions created during the COVID-19 crisis, the Liberal minority government made deals with the NDP, Bloc Québécois, and Green Party which reduced the ability of Parliament to hold the executive to account by eliminating key levers of power at the opposition’s disposal and by limiting the frequency of House of Commons sittings. [...] The Hansard of that day records the pithy comment of the member for Saanich – Gulf Islands, Elizabeth May: “these are not normal times.”28 Similar sentiments regarding the fundamental nature of the changes brought on by COVID-19 were voiced at Westminster.29 March 13, 2020 marked the start of the adaptation of the rules of the House of Commons to the special circumstances of the abnormal times. [...] In contrast to the several centuries of institutional setting, this motion of March 13 set the tone for the adaptation of the House of Commons, and ultimately of the entire Parliament of Canada, to the extraordinary circumstances of COVID-19.