The Liberal government’s forced labour bill could clear the House in the upcoming fall sitting as opposition parties decry its slow progress through Parliament.

A Liberal government source said there’s a strong chance the legislation could pass in the Commons before the end of the year, though noted that public consultations are still ongoing. The source isn’t being identified because they aren’t authorized to publicly speak on the matter.

Those consultations are expected to continue over the summer.

Bill C-35 was introduced in mid-June, days before the House rose for the summer recess.

This comes as the United States Trade Representative announced that they will be imposing new tariffs on dozens of trading partners, including Canada, on alleged imports of forced labour goods. 

Canada is one of the six places the U.S. listed to have “failed to effectively enforce prohibition” on imported goods produced with forced labour. 

READ MORE: Canada says there’s no basis for Trump’s forced labour tariffs 

 The development has fueled Conservative criticism of Ottawa’s handling of forced labour enforcement. Conservative MP Shuvaloy Majumdar, the party’s critic for Canada-U.S.  relations, said it’s definitely “better than status quo,” but argued that it’s “three years late.” 

He argued that the Liberal government squandered more than a year to shore up Canada’s supply chains and bolster its leverage in U.S. trade talks. 

“This is not a government that actually has been taking it seriously, and it’s obviously deeply disturbing,” Majudmar said in an interview with iPolitics.

Majudmar referenced the government’s recent EV deal with Beijing, as well as a committee questioning on the “truth around whether there’s slavery” in China supply chains to Canada.

“They’ve gaslit the House of Commons by claiming that Canada does not have a forced labour problem, only to table a law later to close the gap on forced labour issues that they now feel are present in our country,” he said.

A spokesperson at Global Affairs said consultations will happen this summer, including on how the government should “develop and maintain the list of goods at-risk.”

“Forced Labour is a serious violation of human rights that undermines fair and open trade. Canada is firmly committed to ensuring that its supply chains reflect the highest standards of integrity and respect for human dignity and support a competitive market,” John Babcock, spokesperson of Global Affairs Canada wrote in a statement to iPolitics.