Should Budget Bills Include Non-Financial Measures?
Official title: Study and report on the practice of including non-financial matters in bills implementing provisions of budgets and economic statements
The Senate is studying whether budget bills should be allowed to include measures that aren't actually about money. Right now, governments often tuck unrelated policy changes into massive budget bills, making them harder to scrutinize. This study will examine whether that practice undermines Parliament's ability to do its job.
Why This Matters
Ever wonder why massive bills pass with little debate? Budget bills often hide controversial changes in hundreds of pages of financial measures. This study could lead to rules that force governments to be more transparent about what they're actually passing into law.
What Could Change
The Senate could recommend new rules limiting what can be included in budget bills. This might force governments to introduce separate legislation for non-financial matters, giving Parliament more time to debate each issue on its merits.
Key Issues
- Should budget implementation bills be limited to financial matters only?
- Does including non-financial measures in budget bills undermine parliamentary scrutiny?
How to Participate
- Submit a written brief to the committee at nffn@sen.parl.gc.ca. Briefs from organizations and individuals are accepted.
- Watch committee meetings live or review transcripts and video recordings of past sessions.