Liberals intend to move quickly to bring the Ukraine Free Trade Agreement bill back for discussion and pressure the Conservatives to support it as MPs return to the House of Commons today, Monday, after the Christmas break.

The legislation implementing the updated free trade agreement between Canada and Ukraine became an unexpected political issue in the fall when the Conservatives voted against it in protest over carbon pricing.

Ukraine has set a carbon price since 2011 and Canada since 2019, but the updated free trade agreement calls on both countries to enhance carbon pricing.

The Conservatives explained that they voted against the legislation only because they would not support any promotion of carbon pricing and showed no signs of willingness to budge.

At the same time, the Conservatives will waste no time in targeting carbon pricing for farmers, potentially creating more loopholes in one of the Liberals' hallmark climate policies.

The Conservative carbon pricing bill was amended to remove certain additional types of agricultural fuels from carbon pricing in the Senate and is first up for further discussion this morning.

Many Ukrainian organizations in Canada criticized the Conservatives for voting against the Ukraine Free Trade Agreement bill, which the Liberals then took over, accusing the Conservatives of bowing to commentators and right-wing American politicians who sided with Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.

Liberal House Leader Steven MacKinnon said the bill will be brought forward for discussion soon, as well as legislation implementing the economic fall statement and one banning the use of replacement workers in most federally regulated workplaces.

MacKinnon pointed out that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has a choice to make regarding Ukraine, saying, "As you know, we are the only people not mocking his position on that."

Poilievre said the Conservatives will enter the session with relentless focus on passing bill C-234.

Gasoline and diesel used on farms are already exempt from carbon pricing because there are often no alternatives. The legislation, introduced by Conservative MP Ben Lobb, seeks to remove carbon pricing from natural gas and propane as well.

The bill was easily approved in the House of Commons nearly a year ago with support from all parties except the Liberals. But the Senate voted in favor of amending the bill in December, leaving only propane designated for grain drying.

Lobb said on Sunday that he rejected those amendments, telling reporters he expects them to be sent back to the House as originally written.

The bill now must be discussed in the House of Commons, and if passed it will put both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault in a political dilemma.

Both have promised not to make further cuts to carbon pricing after moving in October to remove it from heating oil for three years, a decision they insist was made to give heating oil users more time and money to replace oil furnaces with electric heat pumps, but it has faced significant political criticism.

With heating oil appearing in Atlantic Canada, the Liberals have been accused of pandering to the region to regain votes.

Poilievre will start 2024 in Parliament much like he spent the previous year, focusing starkly on the cost-of-living concerns Canadians face, ranging from affordable housing to grocery prices.

His decision to do so throughout 2023 has propelled him to the top of the polls, leaving Trudeau-led Liberals scrambling to catch up.

Poilievre said at his party gathering on Sunday: "Conservatives will fight throughout this session to cut taxes, build houses, fix the budget, and stop crime."

Appealing to Canadians concerned about crime in their cities is another key focus for the Conservatives, as is growing support among the country's working class, especially within the New Democratic Party and Liberals in Northern Ontario, and inside British Columbia and Vancouver Island.

When it comes to the Liberals' bill to ban the use of replacement workers in federally regulated workplaces, the Conservatives have not yet declared their position.

Democrats and New Liberals continue to negotiate what an initial pharmacare program might look like.

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh likened working with the Liberals on pharmacare legislation to wrestling oily snakes.

Singh said at a city council meeting in Edmonton, where the New Democrats held a party meeting last week, that he received this description from his party’s health critic, Don Davies, who was negotiating with the government on the framework bill.