Topic

#House-of-Commons

Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa — Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0

Policy Watch|Canada

Ottawa says it will keep MAID closed to mental illness alone and allow advance requests. Hours later, the House defeats the Conservative bill 187–141

On 7 October 2026 Justice Minister Sean Fraser and Health Minister Marjorie Michel said a government bill this fall will keep the exclusion of MAID where mental illness is the sole condition “on an indeterminate basis” and will allow advance requests, with provinces deciding whether to permit them. That afternoon the House rejected Conservative MP Tamara Jansen’s Bill C-218 at second reading, 141–187. No government bill has been tabled. Under current law, the exclusion still ends on 17 March 2027.

Daily Teabag Desk·October 8, 2026Centre

Accountability|Canada

Bill C-40 would make Ottawa’s defence-buying agency a Crown corporation, with a $1 billion drawing limit and 13 grounds to skip competitive bidding

Introduced 6 October 2026, the Strengthening Canada’s Defence Sector Act turns the Defence Investment Agency into the Canadian Corporation for Defence Investment. It could lend, guarantee and buy shares, and draw up to $1 billion at a time from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. A rewritten Defence Production Act requires competition for contracts but lets the minister waive it on 13 listed grounds. The bill does not add the new corporation to the Access to Information Act’s list of covered institutions.

Daily Teabag Desk·October 7, 2026Centre

Abstract policy illustration — The Daily Teabag

Policy Watch|Canada

Youth drug-treatment bill C-231 clears report stage, after committee dropped its ‘no custody for refusing treatment’ clause

Luc Berthold’s private member’s bill amending the Youth Criminal Justice Act was concurred in at report stage on 6 October 2026. Police would have to consider sending youths charged with simple drug possession to treatment, and youth courts could delay sentencing so a young offender can attend a program. The justice committee deleted the original clause barring custody solely for failing to comply with a treatment condition.

Daily Teabag Desk·October 7, 2026Centre

Cost of Living|Canada

House rejects Conservative motion to scrap diesel taxes until Canada Day, 196–133

The first opposition day of the fall sitting, 6 October 2026, is a Conservative motion calling on the government to eliminate all taxes on diesel consumption until at least Canada Day, permanently eliminate taxes on diesel production, and fast-track refineries, pipelines and storage. The vote must be held by 5:30 p.m. It is non-binding, and it does not say which taxes it means. Update, 8 October: the House negatived the motion on 7 October, 133–196.

Daily Teabag Desk·October 6, 2026Centre