Elizabeth May releases Green response to House Leader’s white paper on reform to Standing Orders

(OTTAWA) – Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands), today released the Party’s response to reforms proposed by the Hon. Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, as well as the following statement:

“Ahead of the continuation of an opposition filibuster in the House Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, I am releasing the Green Party’s position on the proposals presented by the current government on how best to modernize and reform our Parliamentary procedures,” Ms. May said. “While I am of the firm belief that there are many critical improvements that require Parliament’s attention, the process to achieve them must be fair and given adequate time for study. The current timeline of the Liberal reform process does not provide either.

“I support the actions of my colleagues in the Opposition to advocate for a better reform process. It is of utmost importance that any reforms to the Standing Orders be made only with the unanimous support of all parties represented in the House of Commons. I would encourage the Hon. House Leader to learn from this burst trial balloon, and to advance the discussion of reform by proposing a more collaborative, consensus-driven approach. Canadians deserve a House of Commons that functions better: we must not allow normal hyper-partisan politics to intrude on the reform of its rules.”

Find Reforming the Standing Orders of the House of Commons – A Green Approach, here, or as a PDF below.

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Dan Palmer
Press Secretary | Attaché de presse
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