Opposition set to amend election bill to curb MP pension eligibility

An attempt by the Liberals to avoid holding the 2025 federal election on a date that conflicts with a religious festival appears set to be overruled by the Opposition, following claims that the new date sets up a financial conflict of interest for MPs first elected in 2019.

The current election law says that unless Parliament is dissolved early, the next federal election «must be held on the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following polling day for the last general election» — Monday, October 20, 2025.

That date conflicts with Diwali, the religious festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs in South Asian communities.

Bill C-65, the Electoral Participation Act introduced last March, proposes a one-time change to move voting day a week later, to Oct. 27.

But holding the election on that date would also mean that up to 80 MPs — those who were first elected in the 2019 general election — would have served the six years required to qualify for a parliamentary pension, even if they don't run and win their seats in the next campaign.

«It ought to be called the loser Liberal pension protection act,» Conservative MP Michael Cooper said as Commons debate kicked off on C-65 at second reading Friday morning. He accused the Liberal government of changing the date so that MPs who don't run again or lose their seats can «pad their pockets at the expense of Canadian taxpayers.»

«It's about as cynical and dishonest as it gets,» the Alberta MP said.

Not so, the Liberals insist.

The bill, which was drafted jointly with the New Democrats to fulfil more of the conditions of their ongoing supply and confidence agreement, is supposed to make it easier for Canadians to vote — and not only by avoiding significant