Canada’s Parliament Is Being Sidelined—And Our Democracy Is at Risk

Parliament is supposed to sit for 25 weeks a year. Over the past 12 months, it sat for just 15. That’s a 40% drop in the time available for MPs to scrutinize government decisions and hold the executive accountable.

This isn’t just a scheduling issue—it’s a fundamental threat to Canadian democracy.

While the country faces a $100 billion annual deficit, the Liberal Government has reduced Parliament’s role to a shadow of what it should be. If you hear that opposition parties are “holding up” the government, ask yourself: Why did the Liberals decide they don’t need to be held accountable?

Like any workplace, the first step to getting things done is showing up. And when Parliament doesn’t sit, the government isn’t being questioned, challenged, or held to account.

This shift isn’t just procedural—it’s constitutional. Canada is not a Presidential system. The Prime Minister’s Office cannot and should not act unilaterally. Yet, we’re seeing a dangerous drift toward Presidential-style power, where decisions are made behind closed doors, without the approval of elected representatives.

The balance of power is shifting—from the rule of many to the rule of one.

This is our democracy. It matters. And we lose it at our own peril.