The sitting was dominated by a wide-ranging debate on reforming the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, with members from all parties proposing changes to question period, committee work, and voting procedures. The central political argument pitted the government’s call for cooperation on its legislative agenda against Conservative attacks on the economy, job losses, and the cost of living.
On Government Orders, the House spent most of the day debating changes to the Standing Orders and Procedure. Members proposed reforms including lengthening question period exchanges from 35 seconds to two minutes (Corey Hogan, Liberal), restoring the Speaker’s right of recognition and electing committee chairs by secret preferential ballot (Michael Chong, Conservative), abolishing the morning prayer and creating a Friday ministerial question period (Yves Perron, Bloc Québécois), and allowing all members, not just those from recognized parties, to trigger recorded votes (Jenny Kwan, NDP). Pat Kelly (Conservative) argued for reverting to voice votes and ending virtual participation, while Scott Reid (Conservative) criticized the weaponization of the ethics commissioner’s process. John-Paul Danko (Liberal) raised concerns about parliamentary privilege being used to make false statements. Kevin Lamoureux (Liberal) proposed allowing any member to speak on any bill on Fridays by giving advance notice. No votes were taken on these proposals. Later, the House debated Bill S-210, the Ukrainian Heritage Month Act, which would designate September as Ukrainian heritage month. The bill received support from all parties, with members from the Bloc Québécois, Liberals, and Conservatives speaking in favour, citing the contributions of Ukrainian Canadians and solidarity with Ukraine.
Oral Questions focused heavily on the economy and employment, with Conservatives repeatedly citing Statistics Canada data showing a loss of 25,000 net jobs in January and 52,000 private-sector jobs. They accused the government of presiding over an employment crisis and called for tax cuts on Canadian-made vehicles and support for manufacturing. The government responded by pointing to overall job growth of 134,000 over the past year, an unemployment rate of 6.5%, and its auto industry strategy and budget measures. A second major theme was the automotive industry, where Conservatives criticized the government’s EV rebate policy for subsidizing foreign-made vehicles, including those from the United States, while Canadian auto plants closed. The government defended its strategy as supporting workers and building for the future. Other recurring topics included a software glitch affecting 85,000 seniors’ Old Age Security payments, cuts to scientific research, and the lack of age restrictions at supervised drug consumption sites. The House also held tributes to former MP and minister Kirsty Duncan, who died on January 26, 2026, with members from all parties honouring her career as a scientist, minister, and advocate for safe sport.