For clarification, I want to point out what happened regarding another government bill, bill C-14 on assisted dying:
This bill, passed easily by the House of Commons (in a total of 5 weeks), also was debated a lot in the Senate. The Senate proposed no less than seven (!) amendments over the course of six sittings of third reading in the Senate.
The bill was then sent back to the House of Commons. The House of Commons then agreed to some of the amendments but rejected four of them. The bill was then sent back to the Senate with these messages from the HoC. The Senate then had a very intense debate that lasted for most of a whole sitting day and then - with a considerable margin of 44:28 - voted to accept the compromise: It will not insist on the four amendments rejected by the House of Commons and pass the bill as suggested.
So, in an itemized list:
- HoC passes bill quickly.
- Senate gives seven amendments during third reading over many sittings.
- HoC then rejects four of those amendments.
- Senate says OK to that compromise.
- Bill becomes law.
Sounds familiar?
Please also note, we are talking about a bill on assisted dying here which is arguably one of the most controversial and most emotional topics in society. Even in that case, Senate and HoC reached a compromise.
We are in a facts only thread so I want to point out the following:
What I do not want to imply with my remarks:
The HoC and the Senate will reach a compromise and the bill will pass by May and we live happily ever after. No one can say that for sure.
What I do want to imply with my remarks:
Compromise between the HoC and the Senate regarding a government bill is not unheard of and happened as recently as eight months ago. So you should take the opinions by people in this forum who claim that C-6 is now dead due to these amendments with this context above in mind.
Compromise happens. Even when they are talking about assisted dying.