TEN DAYS LEFT — Maybe. Hands up if you think the people elected to serve in the House of Commons can actually tolerate each other until Dec. 15. Here’s the state of things around Ottawa in the runup to the holidays — a time of year when the National Capital Commission flips the switch on thousands of fanciful Christmas lights that pretty up the place. And, this year, also faces questions on that zero-carbon retrofit that Conservatives have dismissed as a pricey barn reno. Three observations on the fishbowl: — Thing No. 1: Conservatives are still complaining about a non-existent carbon tax in a renewed free-trade deal with a country fighting an existential war with Russia — a deal supported by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. — Thing No. 2: Liberals are relentlessly slapping a MAGA label on PIERRE POILIEVRE, a pro-choice, pro-immigration, pro-Ukraine leader — while occasionally admitting to going too far in trying to connect Conservative politics to violent crimes. — Thing No. 3: Conservatives are gleefully pulling out all procedural tricks to block key government legislation. The House natural resources committees, for example, has been bogged down in procedural fights since October as the government attempts to advance "sustainable jobs" legislation. — The typical culprit: Sure, we can blame it all on Parliament’s semi-annual silly season. But can anybody remember the last season that didn't feel silly? — Flashback to 2021: Maybe this talk of obstruction will ring a bell. Remember the raucous spring sitting before the most recent federal election? When acrimony and distrust replaced any mention of the "good work of Parliament." Here's a sample: "We have seen a level of obstructionism and toxicity in the House that is of real concern," a bearded and quarantining Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU told reporters outside of Rideau Cottage on June 22, 2021. Less than two months later, Trudeau wandered across the Rideau Hall grounds to ask the governor general for an election. — Don't jump to conclusions: No, Playbook is not predicting a vote any time soon. Not a single Liberal is even hinting at that outcome in the near future. But parties are sharpening their pitches to voters — in ways far more noticeable than seven months ago when tired-but-confident Liberals were partying at their biennial convention. The hustings stump speeches might sound something like this: → Sample Liberal line: “These MAGA-lite Conservatives are hell-bent on a dysfunctional Parliament. We think Canadians deserve a chance to vote for a party that wants to actually govern for people.” → Sample Conservative line: “Liberals cram new carbon taxes into everything that moves — even free-trade deals.” Insert the catchy Poilievre slogan du jour: “Taxes up, time's up” or “Out of touch and out of time.” → Sample NDP line: “Only New Democrats got things done in Parliament, though Liberals couldn't get it done on delivering pharmacare. You've run out of patience, and so have we.” — Timelines for consideration: If anybody wants to fight an election under the outgoing riding boundaries, Parliament will have to dissolve before April 23. Every party is doing the electoral math on the new set of 343 districts. If the Liberals want to campaign against Republicans — presumably DONALD TRUMP — they’ll keep in mind Americans vote Nov. 5. If the Liberal-NDP supply and confidence goes the distance, this Parliament will last until June 2025. PLAYBOOK POLL — Do you think MPs will stick around Ottawa for another 10 days? The House often adjourns for the holidays a couple of days early. Will they pack up on Wednesday, Dec. 13? Will the rush to the airport come a day later on Thursday, the 14th? What's your bet? Submit it now! We'll print the names of every reader who nailed the adjournment. BILLS TO WATCH — Only a select few bills on the Commons order paper have any hope of becoming the law of the land before 2024. — C-56: The Liberal-NDP plan to speed Bill C-56 through the House of Commons should send the legislation to the Senate by the end of the week. The legislation will remove the federal sales tax from rental housing construction and tighten competition rules. C-56 powered through the House finance committee last week, amended to include NDP provisions that would punish anti-competitive corporate behavior. The terms of the fast-tracking deal stipulate only a day of debate at both report stage and third reading. Government House Leader KARINA GOULD has reserved space for both this week. Then it's on to the Senate, where the appointed folks don't like to be rushed. — C-234: Senators will vote Tuesday on an amendment at third reading to the Conservative private member's bill that cleared the Commons earlier this year with opposition support. C-234 would take the carbon tax off natural gas and propane used for certain farming activities, a carve-out that has led to high drama in the Senate — including allegations of harassment in the chamber (and on social media). If the amendment fails and the unamended bill comes to a vote, farmers in favor of C-234 could see it achieve royal assent in days. — C-50, C-57, C-59: The Liberals badly want their sustainable jobs legislation, Bill C-50, to get to the Senate. They're prioritizing a fast-track motion today to move the bill through the House. Pressure is on the Tories to eventually support C-57, the Canada-Ukraine free trade deal. And the House will take a second-reading vote this week on C-59, the bill that would implement several measures — including a digital services tax — in the Fall Economic Statement. MARCH FOR ISRAEL — A large demonstration in support of Israel's war with Hamas will gather on the Hill at 1:30 p.m. Liberal MPs ANTHONY HOUSEFATHER and MARCO MENDICINO, Tory deputy leader MELISSA LANTSMAN and MPs MICHELLE REMPEL GARNER and MARTY MORANTZ, Israeli Ambassador to Canada IDDO MOED, and former Montreal mayor DENIS CODERRE will address the crowd. So will media commentator REX MURPHY. — On the other side: Hundreds of Palestinian supporters rallied Saturday on the Hill, just a day after a ceasefire ended in Gaza. One attendee said support from elected people has been lacking: "There is a movement for politicians to speak up, but it is not enough." Three NDP MPs will today call on the Liberal government to "help Palestinian-Canadian families bring their loved-ones facing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza to safety in Canada." JENNY KWAN, MATTHEW GREEN and ALEXANDRE BOULERICE will hold a West Block press conference at 11 a.m.
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