OTTAWA – As Bill C-86, the Liberal’s latest omnibus budget bill, winds its way through the Canadian legislative process, the few people who’ve managed to read the entire 850 page document are calling attention to a clause buried deep in the bill specifically designed to protect the Liberals from discussion of the fact that they used to be against burying clauses deep in omnibus bills.
“It’s hidden deep in there, but they’ve definitely criminalized talking about how powerfully they used to be against omnibus bills when the Conservatives did them,” said one NDP MP who asked to remain anonymous because it’s unclear if the new legislation will be applied retroactively. “They’re especially touchy about mentioning that their promise not to abuse omnibus bills is still up on their 2015 campaign website, they’re classifying discussion of that as a crime against humanity.”
While the Conservatives are hesitant to call out the Liberals for using omnibus bills to ram through legislation without proper debate because they used them before and plan to use them again the next time they form a government, they were quick to say Justin Trudeau should be ashamed of himself, just in general and for no specific reason.
The Liberals are tight lipped about the new legislation hidden in the budget bill with Finance Minister Bill Morneau saying it’s not his place to comment on laws in the budget and Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould saying she can’t comment on laws in the budget.
Eagle eyed readers have also discovered that Bill C-86 contains legislation that would requires anyone who brings up the Liberal’s promise during the 2015 election that it would be the last First-Past-The-Post federal election to be immediately placed on the terrorism watchlist.
