Liberals welcome Tories' 'spirit of co-operation' as Parliament prepares to return

Liberal House leader Steven MacKinnon said his party welcomes the Conservatives' offer to fast-track certain bills and that he will speak with Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer to discuss particulars.

Steven MacKinnon, the Liberal House leader, said the Liberals welcome a ‘spirit of co-operation’ from the Conservative Party as Parliament prepares to return. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre posted a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney offering to help fast-track policies and bills. The Conservatives proposed pausing some committee debate in exchange for fast-tracking other measures. The proposal has raised questions about committee processes and party negotiations ahead of the next sitting. Key developments: - Pierre Poilievre posted a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney offering Conservative support to fast-track policies and bills the Conservatives said have been delayed. - The Conservatives proposed fast-tracking the Liberal bail-reform Bill C-14 if the justice committee pauses debate on the government's anti-hate bill, Bill C-9; Liberals on the committee have refused to pause. - Poilievre offered to fast-track trade bills C-13 and C-18, which relate to inviting the U.K. to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and approving the Canada–Indonesia trade deal. - Conservatives called for faster approval of major resource projects and said they would support any legislative changes needed to approve pipelines or similar projects. - Ontario MP Michael Ma crossed from the Conservatives to the Liberals during the last sitting; Liberals say other opposition MPs have been approached but no further changes have been announced. - Pierre Poilievre will face a leadership review at the Conservative convention in Calgary next weekend, and MacKinnon said he will call Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer to discuss the particulars. Summary: The Conservatives have offered targeted cooperation on bills covering crime, trade and project approvals while seeking faster action on major projects, but committee disagreement remains over Bill C-9. MacKinnon plans to speak with Andrew Scheer about the offers, and Poilievre will face a leadership review next weekend. The outcome of those discussions and any changes to committee plans are undetermined at this time.