The Carney Liberals have cast themselves as vigilant guardians of democratic accountability, sounding alarms about the creeping threat of right-wing fascism undermining Canada’s institutions. However, their decision to prorogue Parliament in 2025 reveals a stark hypocrisy, as it silenced legislative debate and evaded scrutiny at a pivotal moment. While they might argue this was a pragmatic response to a crisis requiring a reset of the legislative agenda, the lack of a clear, specific rationale and their history of using prorogation to sidestep controversies suggest political expediency over necessity. This move, which stalls the democratic process they claim to protect, casts doubt on their commitment to transparency and accountability.

Their refusal to table a federal budget in 2025 further erodes their credibility as champions of responsible governance. By skipping this cornerstone of fiscal accountability, they’ve left Canadians without clarity on economic priorities during a time of global uncertainty, prioritizing political maneuvering over public trust. The Liberals might counter that global economic volatility demanded delaying the budget to ensure fiscal prudence, but their failure to provide interim fiscal updates or a timeline for a future budget undermines this claim. Such an omission hampers Parliament’s oversight role, contradicting their stated dedication to open and accountable governance.

The Liberals’ warnings about authoritarian threats ring hollow when their own actions weaken the democratic norms they vow to uphold. Proroguing Parliament and bypassing a budget are not mere procedural hiccups but deliberate retreats from accountability that echo the authoritarian tendencies they condemn. They may argue that these steps are minor compared to global populist threats, but this defense falters when their governance choices invite skepticism about their motives. For a party campaigning on safeguarding democracy, the Carney Liberals’ actions—prorogation and budget avoidance—reveal a troubling disconnect between their rhetoric and reality, fueling doubts about their true priorities.