Prorogation of Parliament: The impact on defending your interests

Prime Minister Trudeau’s announcement that he would resign as leader of the Liberal Party and would step down from the nation’s top-job once his party chose his successor also came with the announcement that the Governor General had granted a request for a Prorogation of Parliament. But what does prorogation mean, how does it impact legislation in the House, and how will it impact your organization’s advocacy?

The prorogation of a Parliament is an act that can only be taken by the Governor General as the representative of the Crown on the advice of the Prime Minister. This brings a parliamentary session to an end, and suspends the work of the House of Commons and the Senate. Parliamentarians return to their constituency until the end date specified in the Governor General’s declaration or a subsequent declaration marking the end of the prorogation period is published. In this case, until March 24, 2025.

The prorogation of a session immediately ends all business before Parliament. While there are some exceptions, all unfinished business ends and must be restarted from the beginning in a subsequent session. Legislation that has not received Royal Assent before prorogation is terminated and, in order to proceed with legislation in the new session, must be entirely reintroduced. For example, this includes the Government’s proposed changes to the capital gains tax, which will need to be reintroduced to the House of Commons at the beginning of the new legislative session at the end of March if the Government intends to follow through on their proposed capital gains increase.

Legislation that is exempted from being terminated by prorogation is Private Members’ Business, which is returned to the beginning of the legislative stage occupied at the declaration of prorogation. This means that any Private Members’ Bills before committees or in second or third readings before the House will be in place and continue from the legislative stage they were at when prorogation was granted.

Prorogation as a tool has been used throughout Canadian history with recent examples from the Harper and Trudeau governments. Prime Minister Harper was granted prorogation in December 2008 and 2009. In the case of Prime Minister Trudeau, he obtained prorogation in August 2020 and now in January 2025. Prorogation effectively resets the legislative agenda and allows MPs time to return to their ridings and talk to their constituents. This gives associations and their members a great opportunity for grassroots advocacy and direct engagement with their local MPs. Scheduling a meeting with an MP or offering to take them on a tour of a local business can provide a great opportunity to highlight the major issues most important to your association and your members' community. 

It’s important to always remain active and engaged with advocacy and meet with parliamentarians where they are instead of waiting for them to come to you. Prorogation offers an excellent opportunity for local advocacy that highlights the issues affecting an MP’s riding and gives your association’s members a chance to demonstrate their importance both locally and nationally. Parliament isn’t sitting and neither should you. 

For more information on how your organization can make the most out of prorogation, connect directly with our team of seasoned consultants.

James Ball

RESEARCH SPECIALIST