When Parliament Is Recessed, MPs Aren’t on Vacation — What They’re Really Doing

View of Canada’s Parliament buildings in Ottawa, framed by bright pink flowers on the left and dense green trees in the foreground, with the Ottawa River visible at the bottom of the image under a clear blue sky.

Parliamentary gridlock isn’t always about politics—it’s about the system itself. Here’s what really happens during recess. In Canadian politics, what looks like inaction is often tangled in process. This post breaks down how parliamentary dysfunction isn’t just about bad faith or bad leadership — it’s baked into the structure. If you’ve ever asked, “Why can’t they just get on with …