Members of Parliament are set to vote on a government bill calling for billions in funding as a deadline approaches.
Last month, the Liberals asked Parliament to approve spending of $21.6 billion.
The money will go to fund the First Nations children and family services program and compensate the Quebec government for services for asylum seekers, among other programs.
But there was uncertainty about whether the vote would take place before Tuesday’s deadline.
Parliament has been paralyzed for months as Conservatives pressure the Liberals to hand over documents related to hundreds of millions of dollars of improper spending on a green technology fund.
The issue is the focus of an ongoing debate over privilege, which conservatives have vowed to continue until they get what they want.
Privilege matters take priority over almost all other House business, so government business has not moved forward.
But in a ruling last week, citing House of Commons rules and procedures, Speaker Greg Fergus said he would exercise his authority to pause debate on privileges so a vote on government spending can continue.
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Supplemental appropriations bills must be voted on by Dec. 10, or the government would have no authority to spend additional money.
The debate will take place tonight and the spending may not be voted on until Wednesday morning. Under new procedural rules adopted in February, the government can adjourn a session at midnight, pausing proceedings until 9 a.m. the next day if debate on a supply bill has not ended.
“Oh God, I don’t want to predetermine anything. I don’t want to tempt fate or the universe,” House Speaker Karina Gould told reporters Monday about how she thinks the vote could go.
“I’m looking forward to the vote. There are a lot of really good things for Canadians and it’s important that we do that. “That’s what Parliament is here for.”
Among other requests in the bill are $561 million for the Department of National Defense for its Canadian multi-mission aircraft project.
“This funding is now required for quarterly payment under the delivery plan we have with the United States government for the acquisition of up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft,” a department spokesperson said in a statement.
The purchase of the P-8A Poseidon is intended to replace Canada’s current maritime patrol aircraft, the CP-140 Aurora, which has been in service for more than 40 years.
“We expect first delivery of the aircraft in 2026,” a department spokesperson said.
The First Nations Child and Family Services Program request is for $955.2 million, which Indigenous Services Canada says is “to ensure continued compliance with the orders of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and enable continued provision of support. The money for Quebec asylum seekers is a $581.3 million request through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
All three departments said none of those requests are for money that has already been spent. If the funds are not approved, the IRCC said it could tap into government contingency funds to reimburse the province, while the DND said it could have trouble meeting contractual obligations and keeping projects on track.
The outcome of the vote, however, is almost a foregone conclusion. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh told reporters last week that his party would approve the supplemental estimates as there is additional money for the government’s new dental care program: $317 million.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
