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While the deputies began their voting session... the conservatives are trying to delay government legislation until the liberals present more carbon tax exemptions.

While the deputies began their voting session... the conservatives are trying to delay government legislation until the liberals present more carbon tax exemptions.

By Omayma othmani

Published: December 9, 2023

MPs began a marathon voting session throughout the night in the House of Commons on Thursday night as opposition Conservatives fulfilled their promise to derail Liberal government legislation with a flood of votes unless parts of the carbon tax were repealed.

For his part, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said in a message to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Liberal MPs on Wednesday, outlining his strategy to keep MPs seated in the House during Christmas, "You will not rest until the tax is over."

The Conservatives are imposing a delay by obtaining 135 votes in the House of Commons, mostly based on government estimates. The party said this would lead to round-the-clock voting and is likely to continue until Friday evening, disrupting the Liberals' agenda.

As voting began on Thursday, Liberals and the New Democratic Party criticized Poilievre for leaving the House that evening to attend a fundraising campaign in Quebec.

Poilievre later visited members of the Jewish community in Montreal at a synagogue recently targeted by Molotov cocktails before attending Hanukkah events in the city, according to a party spokesperson to CBC News in the background.

MPs also noticed his absence from the chamber on Thursday evening. Some began chanting, "Where is Pierre?" from Conservative benches.

On Friday morning, after a marathon overnight voting session in the House of Commons triggered by a flood of amendments made by the Conservatives, the Conservatives responded with chants of "Where is Trudeau?" The Prime Minister was also absent earlier in the evening but arrived later and was seen voting throughout the early morning hours.

Deputy Speaker Chris D'Entremont promised to eject MPs if the chanting continued.

The Conservative leader returned to the House of Commons shortly after 1 a.m. and stayed until just before 6 a.m. to participate in voting. While away from the chamber, he appeared to vote virtually.

The smell of fast food also wafted through the House of Commons as MPs continued voting past midnight. Health Minister Mark Holland appeared for voting wearing a loud green jacket which he said he wore in celebration of the Christmas season.

MPs voted both in person and virtually. At times during the night, Liberal seats were about three-quarters full, while official opposition seats were less densely occupied.

The government side in the House of Commons won all votes by a large margin throughout the night and into the morning, with the Bloc and New Democratic Party siding with the Liberals.

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