Back-to-work bill ending postal dispute could be stalled
Posted Jun 17, 2011 07:12:26 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Federal back-to-work legislation to end the postal dispute will be on the parliamentary table early next week, but it could be delayed by the opposition parties.
The opposition is not in favour of legislating an end to the dispute, but with a solid majority, the Harper government can get it done, just not perhaps as soon as they would like it.
The legislation will likely be tabled on Monday, but the opposition could use most, if not all of the day, to argue against it because the legislative calendar has that day designated as opposition day.
Both opposition leaders Jack Layton and Bob Rae think the government should stay out of the dispute and will try to filibuster as long as possible.
However, the government now has a tool that comes with majority situations, called motion of closure, which can be imposed at any time to end the debate.
The House of Commons is set to break for the summer by next Thursday, but Tory House Leader Peter Van Loan has signalled the government will look at sitting longer “if that’s what it takes.”
