MPs don't officially have to vote in order to pass bills in the House of Commons and it appears to be happening more frequently than usual this session of Parliament. Passing legislation "on division" allows members of Parliament to approve bills without having to register their support or their disapproval. CBC News conducted an analysis of more than two decades' worth of parliamentary journals examining when MPs opted to allow bills to pass through the House on division. Still, only about a quarter of the bills that passed at third reading during the 43rd Parliament did so without a standing vote. "New Democrat MPs and Green MPs might indeed want a recorded vote so that our voters know where we stand on legislation," she said.
Source: CBC News March 09, 2026 14:02 UTC