Liberals agree to Conservative amendments to budget bill.

Liberal MPs backed Conservative changes to Bill C-15 in committee, narrowing proposed ministerial exemption powers and increasing reporting; the finance committee is expected to report the amended bill to the House this week.

Liberal MPs have agreed to support Conservative amendments to Bill C-15, the government's budget bill, after the House of Commons finance committee completed its review. The bill contains a provision that would let cabinet ministers exempt companies from some federal laws, a measure the government described as a "regulatory sandbox" meant to help test new products. Conservatives raised concerns the original wording granted excessive powers, and committee amendments were approved to narrow that authority. The committee also considered other amendments, including one from the Bloc Québécois on bank liability for fraud, which was defeated. Key developments: - Liberal MPs supported Conservative changes in committee that alter parts of Bill C-15 related to ministerial exemption powers. - The contested provision would permit exemptions from some federal laws but explicitly exclude the Criminal Code. - Approved amendments aim to limit exemptions to financial and environmental technology firms, increase public reporting and narrow the list of laws that can be exempted. - The finance committee is expected to report the amended bill back to the House of Commons this week, and the bill could be considered by the Senate before the end of the week. - A Bloc Québécois proposal to require banks to reimburse customers for fraud losses was defeated by Liberal and Conservative committee members. Summary: The committee's approval of Conservative amendments reduces the immediate prospect of a high-stakes confrontation over the budget bill and keeps the legislation moving through the parliamentary process. The next procedural step is for the finance committee to report the amended bill to the House this week, after which the House and potentially the Senate may consider it.