Summary of first session of the 45th Parliament

This page provides a summary of Elizabeth May’s activities and work during the first session of the 45th Parliament, which sat from May-June 2025.

If you have questions about Elizabeth’s parliamentary work and would like clarification or guidance, please email [email protected].

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Elizabeth May worked tirelessly throughout the first session of the 45th Parliament to bring a strong Green opposition voice to the House of Commons.

As the new unofficial leader of the opposition, Elizabeth is challenging the antidemocratic actions of the government and the confusing governance of the Carney Liberals.

The major pieces of legislation in this session were Bill C-2, Bill C-4, and Bill C-5. The House will return to Bills C-2 and C-4 when Parliament resumes in the fall, while Bill C-5 has passed through the House and will go to the Senate in the fall. Elizabeth also reintroduced Mike Morrice’s motion from the last Parliament regarding criteria for affordable housing. 

Bills C-2 and C-5 represent a major shift away from reconciliation and meaningful review of legislation in the House by a government.

Elizabeth urged the government to split Bill C-2 and raised concerns about its impacts on privacy rights and asylum seekers. She described how Bill C-5 and the programming motion demonstrate a level of contempt for Parliament not seen even under the Harper government.

Elizabeth held the minister accountable in a debate where it became clear he did not understand his own legislation. Elizabeth attempted to amend Bill C-5 to include a requirement for ‘meaningful consultation’ with Indigenous communities impacted by projects deemed to be in the ‘national interest’ by Cabinet.

She ultimately voted against both parts of Bill C-5 at third reading and has made clear she cannot support Bill C-2 unless it is significantly amended. 

Elizabeth also rose in the House on a number of other issues, such as during the emergency debate on wildfires in early June and to urge the government to reintroduce Bill C-33, the Strengthening the Port System and Railway Safety in Canada Act. She pushed for the government to implement the recommendations of the Mass Casualty Commission report, as well as the calls for justice of the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. 

Elizabeth was elected as vice chair of the newly-restarted parliamentary climate caucus. She hopes to collaborate with her colleagues in the Senate climate caucus on shared priorities.

Along with her legislative work, Elizabeth hosted an event on Parliament Hill to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5. David Suzuki delivered a passionate keynote address and the event was opened by Algonquin Elder Claudette Commanda. The event was well attended by Indigenous leadership, parliamentarians and staff, and environmental advocates. Elizabeth also co-hosted a parliamentary reception on climate financing.

Elizabeth has also engaged with media through various press conferences, such as when she organised a press conference attended by other MPs and environmental law experts to challenge Bill C-5 on June 16, and in interviews, such as her interview with CPAC after the speakership election on May 28.