The Harper government has made another small concession to allow greater scrutiny of its massive, omnibus budget implementation bill.
It agreed to a Liberal proposal Wednesday to allow nine House of Commons committees - not just the finance committee - to examine different aspects of the 400-plus-page bill, which makes changes to some 60 pieces of legislation.
But NDP leader Tom Mulcair wants the government to go much further. He moved that the behemoth bill to be split into 12 separate legislative chunks, each to be voted on separately.
Even the Liberals, who won the concession on multiple committee studies, admitted it was a tiny step that should not be interpreted as respect for parliamentary democracy.
"This is a thimbleful of respect for Parliament in a sea of contempt," said Liberal finance critic Scott Brison.
