Canada’s House of Commons completed one of its least productive years on record in 2025, sitting for just 73 days and passing a handful of bills before adjourning for the winter break.
The House adjourned on December 11 and will reconvene on January 26, 2026. The 73-day total marks the fewest sitting days since 1937, when the chamber sat for a similar number of days during an election year.
The 45th Parliament opened May 26, 2025, following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to prorogue Parliament. Trudeau stepped aside to allow the Liberal Party to hold a leadership race. Mark Carney won and became the prime minister in the spring.
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Parliament passed five government bills during the abbreviated session. The One Canadian Economy Act received Royal Assent on June 26, along with two appropriation acts authorizing government spending. Lawmakers also approved citizenship law amendments in November and a third appropriation act in December.
The low activity stands in sharp contrast to typical parliamentary years. Canada’s 342 members of Parliament represent approximately 41 million citizens and oversee a federal budget of $586 billion for fiscal year 2025-26.
Election years typically produce fewer sitting days than regular parliamentary sessions. The Canadian constitution requires Parliament to meet at least once per calendar year, though it does not mandate a specific number of sitting days per session.
House Leader Steven MacKinnon told reporters the government accomplished significant work during the 11-week fall sitting, though the budget implementation bill failed to become law before the break. The Liberals and Conservatives spent the final week trading accusations of obstruction over stalled crime legislation, including bills on hate crimes, bail rules, and mandatory minimum sentences.
The House calendar normally provides for approximately 135 sitting days when Parliament operates for a full year without prorogation or dissolution.
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