Government Sources: Omnibus Budget Bill

Hannah Thibedeau Dept: The 's Hannah Thibedeau reports the government expects to pass the bill by Christmas, according to government sources. The government's first 425-page omnibus bill to implement measures from its spring budget along with other changes was opposed by the NDP and led to an all-night voting marathon in June. That bill passed, according to CBC. The government signalled in its March budget that it would tackle reform of MPs' pensions, but did not provide details and the government will include reform of the generous pension plan for members of Parliament in a second omnibus budget bill to be tabled next week, has learned. The sources said next week's second omnibus bill would contain some potentially contentious measures but would be less controversial than the previous bill, which among other things speeds up the environmental review process for industrial projects such as mines and pipelines. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.