In 2024, Parliamentarians will face proposed legislation on a variety of matters, including privacy, drugs, euthanasia, and environmental concerns. Some of this legislation may be passed with the aid of the NDP, with whom the Liberals have a confidence-and-supply partnership. Pharmacare negotiations have been extended to March 1, 2024, and the Digital Charter Implementation Act, which includes improvement of consumer privacy, is currently being studied. Additionally, amendments to the Investment Canada Act, support for a transition to a “low carbon” economy, and legislation to delay MAID expansion are expected to be addressed by Parliament in 2024.
One of the high-profile pieces of legislation to be addressed is the Canada Pharmacare Act, which is part of the Liberals’ confidence-and-supply agreement with the NDP, and currently being negotiated for introduction in March. Parliament will also be addressing Bill C-27, which aims to improve consumer privacy and regulate the use of artificial intelligence systems. In addition, Bill C-34 seeks to amend the Investment Canada Act to allow more time and authority for decisions on foreign investments that may impact national security. Other proposed bills are meant to support the transition to a “low carbon” economy, and delay the expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAID).
In March 2020, Canada expanded medical assistance in dying (MAID) to people whose natural death isn’t “reasonably foreseeable,” but has delayed the expansion to the mentally ill in order to evaluate it further. Lastly, the Liberal government is working to address “online harms” and “hate speech” and recently passed Bill C-234, with the support of the Bloc Quebecois and Green Party. Despite these legislative hurdles, Parliament will have to deliberate on each bill in 2024, particularly those which address pharmacare, consumer privacy, the Investment Canada Act, and Canada’s transition towards a “low carbon” economy, as well as the expansion of MAID.