While Elizabeth May is disappointed the speaker rejected her point of order to set aside the budget bill, it does hold a silver lining for the MP for Saanich Gulf Islands.
“Public awareness is on the rise,” she said.
May made a pitch June 4 to have the omnibus “budget” Bill C-38 set aside. She raised a point of order that “no bill may be introduced either in blank or imperfect state.”
“I got my hopes up because I did make a good argument in law,” she said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “It was asking for a very brave decision … It was simpler for him and less controversial.”
“Bill C-38 is not a proper omnibus law,” she still contends.
While she didn’t succeed in scrapping the bill, awareness about it went through the roof. For example, she noted, Maclean’s Magazine put the entire point of order, all 5,000 words online.
“It was one of the most popular things they’ve ever put on a website,” she said.
“One MP can do a lot. I’m playing a significant role in the house on Bill C-38.”
Along with the 5,000 word point of order, she issued 320 amendments; 270 were deemed in order and not duplicating others. The amendments are clustered for 159 votes that started Thursday. Debate was slated to go until midnight Tuesday and shift to voting Wednesday.
“It’s kind of an endurance trial,” she said.
While it would have been a big win, and a bit like David standing over Goliath, she still sees some opportunity for her amendments to make a difference.
“There’s always the chance … so many Conservatives don’t like what’s happening either, but they’re told how to vote … at least that gives them a chance to vote against some of it.”
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