I feel like somehow the timing of them really wanting to do something will be awful close to the next election cycle.

Ah, yes, the standard Liberal wash cycle:

1. Get elected.
2. Start some committees to study the possibility of a commission to make a recommendation for an option to be considered. Electoral reform, indigenous welfare, whatever.
3. Sabotage the committees you started. Maybe get into a court case or two to defend your not doing anything about clean water on reserves, or climate change, or whatever.
4. Do the neoliberal bullshit you wanted to do: cut some taxes, buy an oil pipeline in hopes Alberta will like you, etc.
5. Two weeks before you drop the writ, promise all sorts of progressive stuff that you'll get to, honest, pinkie-swear. Go ahead and try to kick the football, Charlie Brown.