Opposition set to amend election bill to curb MP pension eligibility

An attempt by the Liberals to avoid holding the 2025 federal election on a date that conflicts with a religious festival appears set to be overruled by the Opposition, following claims that the new date sets up a financial conflict of interest for MPs first elected in 2019.

The current election law says that unless Parliament is dissolved early, the next federal election "must be held on the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following polling day for the last general election" — Monday, October 20, 2025.

That date conflicts with Diwali, the religious festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs in South Asian communities.

Bill C-65, the Electoral Participation Act introduced last March, proposes a one-time change to move voting day a week later, to Oct. 27.

But holding the election on that date would also mean that up to 80 MPs — those who were first elected in the 2019 general election — would have served the six years required to qualify for a parliamentary pension, even if they don't run and win their seats in the next campaign.

"It ought to be called the loser Liberal pension protection act," Conservative MP Michael Cooper said as Commons debate kicked off on C-65 at second reading Friday morning. He accused the Liberal government of changing the date so that MPs who don't run again or lose their seats can "pad their pockets at the expense of Canadian taxpayers."

"It's about as cynical and dishonest as it gets," the Alberta MP said.

Not so, the Liberals insist. 

The bill, which was drafted jointly with the New Democrats to fulfil more of the conditions of their ongoing supply and confidence agreement, is supposed to make it easier for Canadians to vote — and not only by avoiding significant holidays.

For example, it adds additional days to vote in advance polls. It also sets up new offices at post-secondary institutions, where eligible voters may be studying temporarily in a riding where they don't live.

"We should all be concerned about how it is we can get more people voting," said Manitoba Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux. As parliamentary secretary to the government House leader, he urged MPs in the Commons Friday to vote in favour.

The legislation also seeks to curb foreign interference with new prohibitions on spreading false or misleading information or accepting foreign financial contributions. The commissioner of Canada Elections would also gain new enforcement powers for "any conspiracy or attempt to commit, or being an accessory after the fact or counselling in relation to" Elections Act violations.

"This is all good stuff," Lamoureux said, urging the House to pass the bill "relatively quickly" so that it can move to the procedure and House affairs committee for a detailed review by all parties.

But it now appears the bill won't emerge from that review intact.