What prorogation means for new policy and legislation affecting non-profits and funders

From Indigenous rights to digital safety, multiple bills will now sit in limbo โ€“ and most likely be terminated altogether

Why It Matters

Charities and non-profits will have put their precious โ€“ and often slim โ€“ resources towards advocacy and lobbying work. To have Parliament scrap all โ€œunfinished businessโ€ can feel disappointing.ย 

When Justin Trudeau announced on Jan. 6 that he would be stepping down as both Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Party, Parliament also entered a period of prorogation. In a nutshell, all parliamentary activity will stop, allowing the Liberals to elect a new party leader, and a general election will likely soon follow.ย 

During prorogation, which lasts until March 24, all bills and legislation that have yet to reach royal assent will be terminatedโ€”also known as โ€œdying on the table.โ€ย 

Although there are exceptions, most of the time, โ€œin order to be proceeded with in the new session, [bills] must be reintroduced as if they had never existed,โ€ according to the House of Commons website.ย 

Several bills covering amendments to social assistance, health, and

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