Parliament of Canada to reconvene next week
Parliament of Canada will reconvene on March 24th after being prorogued following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation on January 6.
The past two months have been politically turbulent for Canada. Externally, Trump’s tariff actions have increased economic uncertainty, and domestically plummeting approval ratings and mounting criticism over Trudeau’s failed policies ultimately led to his departure in January. As Parliament resumes, lawmakers will face mounting legislative challenges across both internal and external issues.
On the domestic front, Mark Carney secured the Liberal Party leadership on March 14, making him Canada’s first new prime minister in nine years. However, his leadership faces immediate challenges, particularly from the Conservative Party, which could push for a confidence vote in an attempt to force an early federal election. Despite this, both Carney’s Liberals and the Conservatives may favor an early election, believing they stand a better chance of securing a stronger mandate while political momentum is still shifting. This could lead to intense parliamentary battles in the coming weeks.
In the short term, there is a high likelihood of a summer 2025 federal election which will spur further political conflict between the Liberals and Conservatives. This infighting may lead to the lack of a unified front to face external pressures such as Trump’s proposed tariffs. In the medium to long term, both parties will vie for control over key legislation, but the outcome of the next election will ultimately determine the balance of power and the direction of Canada’s governance.
