Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the prorogation of Parliament, a move that effectively halts all legislative business and prevents opposition parties from triggering an election with a non-confidence motion until the Liberals choose a new leader. Trudeau cited the need to address a legislative standstill in the House of Commons and expressed confidence in his government's ability to survive a confidence vote when Parliament reconvenes.
Prorogation, the dissolution of Parliament, results in all pending legislation and committees ceasing to function until the next session. This includes the House of Commons public accounts committee, which was scheduled to debate a motion of non-confidence against the government. Under parliamentary rules, MPs and senators are released from their duties during prorogation, and bills that haven't received Royal Assent are terminated, requiring reintroduction in the new session. Several key government spending plans, including a $1.3-billion border security plan in response to demands from then-incoming U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, are now in limbo