Canada Removes 21‑Day Delay on Trade Agreement Bills The Liberal government has eliminated a 21‑day waiting period between the announcement of trade pacts and the passage of implementing bills. The move, coupled with a shorter negotiation lead time, has sparked debate over transparency and parliamentary oversight. In the latest parliamentary shuffle, Canada's Liberal administration has expedited the way trade pacts are moved through the House of Commons. A former rule that forced a 21‑sitting‑day pause between the presentation of a trade agreement and the introduction of its implementing bill has been abolished. The same day a treaty is announced, its implementation bill can now be tabled, a change that is expected to speed up the arrival of new trade deals on the market. This adjustment was made alongside a separate reduction in the waiting period for governments to enter trade negotiations after announcing an intent - a cut from 90 days to 30.Opposition MPs Challenge Quiet Policy ShiftThe policy reforms were introduced quietly, without the usual public announcement or media circus, and were documented in the Parliamentary website archive as of July 10. Opposition voices have been less than enthused. Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie warned that the changes raise suspicion and expressed willingness to challenge Minister Maninder Sidhu or officials at Global Affairs Canada for clarification.The minister, who is also tasked with finalising a series of free‑trade agreements, has been briefed on the policy shift as early as August 26, ahead of a letter that will be sent to opposition leaders. The policy change comes at a time when the Liberal government is pushing a suite of trade pacts that aim to broaden Canada's economic ties beyond the United States.The implementation of the UK‑TPP accession agreement (Bill C‑13) and the Canada‑Indonesia free‑trade agreement (Bill C‑18) are already examples of the new, faster track, having received royal assent in May after being tabled earlier in the year. Critics argue that the removal of the 21‑day waiting period undercuts the system's built‑in safeguards and weakens parliamentary oversight.Previous Transparency Measures Replaced By New RulesThe policy was originally designed in 2020, after the Liberals, with the NDP's support, added transparency measures to the passage of the Canada‑United States‑Mexico Agreement. Those measures required a 30‑day lead time before negotiations could commence and required economic impact assessments to accompany every implementing bill. Bloc Québécois MP Mario Simard recently introduced Bill C‑228 to demand further transparency, including mandatory prior tabling of a bill 21 days before ratification. The bill was debated but ultimately defeated.Liberal MP Mona Fortier, meanwhile, defended the policy, underscoring the government's commitment to transparency while noting that the rule has been followed for nearly two decades. Social and economic policy director Elizabeth Kwan of the Canadian Labour Congress, however, warned that cutting the waiting period erodes accountability and makes an already opaque process even less transparent. The debate highlights the tension between speeding up trade negotiations and maintaining robust parliamentary scrutiny.Debate Over Trade Speed And Parliamentary ScrutinyCritics fear that less time between treaty announcement and implementation could allow deals to be finalised without sufficient debate or public input. Proponents argue that a quicker process is essential to keep pace with global trade dynamics and to counterbalance the United States' influence.The policy shift may have implications for Canada's reputation regarding open governance and could influence how future trade talks are conducted, especially as the country looks to diversify its economic partners and reduce reliance on a single neighbour