Liberals welcome 'spirit of co-operation' from Tories as Parliament returns: House leader

Liberal House leader Steven MacKinnon says his party welcomes the Conservatives' "spirit of co-operation" as the Official Opposition is offering to fast track bills on crime and trade — and demanding faster action on approving major projects.

On Saturday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre posted a letter he wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney on social media, in which he offered assistance to help the prime minister "turn rhetoric into reality, by fast-tracking policies you have long delayed."

He said the Conservatives will fast-track the Liberal bail-reform Bill C-14 — if the justice committee agrees to pause debate on the government's anti-hate bill, C-9. So far, Liberals on the committee have refused to do that.

The Conservatives blame the Liberals for trying to push C-9 through committee, despite concerns from some religious leaders that it could criminalize some religious practices.

In an interview on Rosemary Barton Live, MacKinnon said "top line, we welcome this spirit of co-operation. Wonder what's led to it — I'll be calling my friend, [Conservative House leader] Andrew Scheer to discuss the particulars."

Poilievre also offered to fast-track bills enacting trade deals negotiated before Carney took office, including C-13 and C-18 — which invite the U.K. to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and approve the Canada-Indonesia trade deal.

But the Conservative are also calling for faster action on approving major resource projects. Poilievre's letter said "any other legislative changes you need to approve a pipeline or other projects will have our prompt support for passage within days."

In an interview on Rosemary Barton Live that aired Sunday morning, Scheer said "every minority Parliament that I have been in, the onus is on the government to work with the other parties to find a path through."

Like Poilievre, Scheer criticized Carney for his pace on major projects and said the Conservatives will support the Liberals on legislation that will "improve the economy or reduce the cost-of-living."

The Conservatives have long called for the federal government to eliminate the industrial carbon tax. Scheer and Poilievre reiterated that demand.

Are there more floor-crossers?

The previous sitting of Parliament ended in dramatic fashion after Ontario MP Michael Ma announced he was leaving the Conservative caucus and joining the Liberals — getting Carney very close to a majority government.

Cabinet ministers suggested there were more opposition MPs getting ready to make the jump, but so far no other announcements have been made.

NDP MP Lori Idlout and B.C. Conservative MP Scott Anderson have both said they were approached by the Liberals.

When asked whether there are still active conversations with other MPs, MacKinnon said he's not involved in those discussions if they are happening and that Canadians in Conservative ridings are making it known they like the direction of the government.

Scheer told Barton that the Conservative caucus supports Poilievre, and Canadians did not give Carney a majority mandate — and he criticized "backroom deals" to get more MPs on Carney's side.

"It may not be illegal, it might not be procedurally invalid — it's certainly not the right thing to do, not the right way to get a majority mandate," Scheer added.

Poilievre will face a leadership review during the Conservative party's convention in Calgary next weekend.

However, some Liberals are hopeful that if Poilievre achieves a high level of support at the Conservative convention, that could push some MPs unhappy with his leadership to make the leap.