MPs wrap up business in the Commons in advance of a fall federal election

OTTAWA – The business of the House of Commons has come to a close for the summer with many MPs returning to their ridings to rev up unofficial re-election campaigns.

The 41st session of Parliament came to an end after the government introduced yet another bill that won’t become law unless the Harper Conservatives are elected to power again in an expected October election — this one to ban face coverings at citizenship ceremonies.

The government has introduced a range of proposed legislation over the last few weeks that it acknowledges couldn’t be debated or voted on until after the election, if at all.

Government House Leader Peter Van Loan says the bills paint a picture of what voters can expect from the Conservatives should they be re-elected.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to officially launch the election campaign in early September, with Oct. 19 fixed as the date for the vote.

But the unofficial campaign will likely run right through the summer.