The federal Liberal government has revised its parliamentary treaty procedures to accelerate the approval of international trade agreements, prompting concerns from opposition politicians and labour organizations about reduced transparency and oversight.
Under changes to the Policy on Tabling of Treaties in Parliament, the government has eliminated a mandatory 21-sitting-day waiting period between presenting a trade agreement to the House of Commons and introducing legislation to implement it.
The revised rules allow both steps to take place on the same day, potentially shortening the time required to bring new trade agreements into force.
The government has also reduced the waiting period between notifying Parliament of its intention to begin trade negotiations and starting those discussions from 90 days to 30 days.
The changes come as Prime Minister Mark Carney seeks to diversify Canada’s international trading relationships and reduce the country’s economic dependence on the United States. Carney has pledged to double Canadian exports to non-U.S. markets within the next decade.
International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, who represents Brampton East, is overseeing efforts to advance agreements with several international partners.
According to The Hill Times, the previous treaty procedures remained in place as recently as July 10. Sidhu subsequently received an August 26 briefing note concerning correspondence informing opposition leaders of the revisions.
Conservative international trade critic Stephanie Kusie questioned the government’s decision to shorten the parliamentary review timelines, suggesting the changes warrant further scrutiny.
Kusie said she would welcome an opportunity to question Sidhu or Global Affairs Canada officials about the reasons behind the amendments, particularly as Canada pursues several major trade agreements.
Global Affairs Canada defended the revised procedures, arguing that faster negotiations and implementation would allow Canadian businesses and workers to benefit sooner from new international trade opportunities.
Department spokesperson Samantha Lafleur said parliamentarians would continue to receive advance notice of negotiations and that implementation legislation would still undergo debate and committee examination in both the House of Commons and Senate.
However, the department did not identify a specific trade agreement whose progress had been delayed enough to require the procedural changes.
The previous transparency provisions were introduced in 2020 under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, following negotiations between the Liberal government and the NDP over parliamentary approval of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.
Those measures included a 90-day notice period before negotiations, additional parliamentary disclosure requirements and economic impact assessments accompanying implementation legislation.
Critics argue that removing these safeguards could reduce opportunities for lawmakers and the public to examine the economic and social consequences of trade agreements before legislation advances.
Elizabeth Kwan, director of social and economic policy at the Canadian Labour Congress, warned that eliminating the 21-sitting-day waiting period could further limit accountability in an already complex trade negotiation process.
Kwan argued that accelerating agreements should not come at the expense of parliamentary scrutiny, particularly when their provisions could affect Canadian workers and industries for generations.
Concerns about transparency have previously surfaced in Parliament. In September 2025, Bloc Québécois MP Mario Simard introduced Bill C-228, proposing stronger parliamentary oversight of international trade agreements.
The legislation sought to require trade bills to be presented 21 days before ratification and to obtain the House of Commons’ opinion before agreements were finalized.
However, the proposal was defeated 302-32 at second reading in January 2026, with most Liberal and Conservative MPs voting against it.
At the time, Liberal MP Mona Fortier defended the government’s existing transparency measures, including the 90-day notice requirement that has now been shortened.
Canada has already advanced several trade agreements under the Liberal government.
Bill C-13, implementing the United Kingdom’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, received royal assent in May after being introduced in October 2025.
Bill C-18, implementing the Canada-Indonesia free trade agreement, also received royal assent in May after being tabled in December 2025.
Meanwhile, Ottawa is pursuing agreements with India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while negotiations with Ecuador and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly concluded. The texts and implementation legislation for the latter two agreements have not yet been tabled.
Former NDP staffer Cameron Holmstrom, now a principal at Niipaawi Strategies, said the government must balance the urgency of expanding international trade with the need for meaningful consultation and parliamentary accountability.
Holmstrom acknowledged that Canada’s current economic circumstances require faster action but cautioned that public confidence could weaken if agreements appeared to be pushed through Parliament without sufficient scrutiny.
The debate highlights the challenge facing the Carney government as it attempts to accelerate trade diversification while maintaining transparency in decisions that could shape Canada’s economic relationships for years to come.
