Sparks fly as MPs question minister on pension implications of proposed election date change

Sparks flew at a parliamentary committee Thursday as MPs questioned Canada's democratic institutions minister about a widely opposed provision in electoral reform legislation that seeks to delay the next fixed election date by one week.

Sparks flew at a parliamentary committee Thursday as MPs questioned Canada's democratic institutions minister about a widely opposed provision in electoral reform legislation that seeks to delay the next fixed election date by one week.

Testifying about Bill C-65, the "Electoral Participation Act," Public Safety and Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc faced a barrage of questions about the government's proposal to move the next fixed election date from Oct. 20, 2025, to Oct. 27, 2025.

The Liberals have said the one-time Canada Elections Act carve-out is to avoid conflicts with fall holidays including Diwali, as well as local elections in Alberta.

Though, postponing the vote by even one day would also have the knock-on effect of securing pensions for 80 MPs first elected in 2019, who wouldn't otherwise qualify if they lost their seats before hitting their six-year service mark on Oct. 21, 2025.

With all opposition parties coming out against the change – and today LeBlanc stating he will "happily respect the will of this committee" if it leaves the fixed date as it stands – the provision appears unlikely to make it into the final version of the legislation.

That didn't stop opposition MPs from challenging LeBlanc about the change.

During the hearing, Conservative MPs suggested the real motivation of the proposal was to protect the pensions of 22 Liberal and six NDP MPs, though the Conservatives have the most MPs – 32 – whose pensions would potentially be on the line.