Here are the Liberal bills that could be doomed by an election

A fall election would likely mean major delays, or an end, for Liberal legislation on firearms, decriminalizing low-level drug offences, and modernizing data privacy laws

Some bills will pass and others won’t if a fall vote is called by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, above delivering a formal apology in the Commons on May 27, 2021 for the internment of Canadians of Italian descent in the Second World War.

PHOTO BY SEAN KILPATRICK/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Bills that would be doomed by a fall election

There are at least three substantial government bills still stuck in second reading debate, meaning they’re unlikely to start committee study in the next week or two. Forget the Senate: these bills may not even pass the Commons by summer.

One is Bill C-21, wide-ranging firearms legislation that allows municipalities to ban handguns, expands “red flag” laws for seizing guns, and extends sentences for people who smuggle firearms. These firearms reforms were a major part of the Liberals’ 2019 election pitch, but if they call a fall election they’ll likely have to run on the same promises again.