The federal Liberal Party of Canada is moving to change the makeup of House of Commons committees after securing a parliamentary majority, a decision critics say could weaken oversight while the government argues it simply reflects democratic seat counts.
Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon introduced a motion Wednesday to expand most committees from 10 to 12 members.
Under the proposed structure, Liberals would hold seven seats, Conservatives four, and the Bloc Québécois one.
The current setup gives opposition parties greater practical influence because committee chairs typically vote only to break ties.
MacKinnon said a government holding a majority in the House should also hold a majority on committees, arguing Parliament’s institutions should mirror the composition of elected members.
He added the government wants committees focused on studying legislation and improving bills rather than becoming stalled by partisan conflict.
Committees play a powerful role in Canada’s parliamentary system. They review legislation, summon witnesses, request documents, and examine government spending and conduct.
Recent committee battles included opposition efforts to call Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne to testify regarding conflict-of-interest questions tied to his partner’s employment with the high-speed rail agency Alto.
Opposition MPs say the proposed changes would allow the government to block similar investigations more easily in the future.
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer accused the Liberals of using newly acquired numbers to shield themselves from scrutiny and make legislation easier to pass.
He said Conservatives will seek amendments to preserve opposition majorities on key oversight committees such as ethics, public accounts, government operations, and status of women.
Those committees are also set for changes. Under the proposal, government and opposition members would each hold five seats, but tied votes would effectively favour the government because chairs usually vote only when necessary.
The Liberals gained majority status earlier this month after floor-crossing by MP Marilyn Gladu and victories in three byelections.
Political scholars say the move is unusual but not necessarily improper.
Jonathan Malloy noted Canada has rarely faced a situation where a government moved from minority to majority during the same Parliament.
Philippe Lagassé said committees are meant to reflect the overall makeup of the House, making the principle defensible even if politically contentious.
The timing of a final vote remains uncertain, as newly elected MPs from recent byelections have not yet taken their seats.
The dispute now sets up a larger question in Ottawa: whether committee reform is a fair reflection of democratic numbers — or a strategic effort to reduce accountability.