MPs pass motion to hold in-person, virtual sittings in House on COVID-19 crisis

MPs have passed a motion to hold bothin-person and virtual meetings to question and debate the government's response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The motion formally adjourns the House of Commons until May 25. A special committee with every MPa member will meet once weekly in person. Virtual meetings will occur online twice a week once technological and procedural issues have been worked out.

MPs defeated a proposed amendment from the Conservatives which called for two in-person sitting days,on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

A smaller group of 36 to 40 MPsreturned to Ottawa today followingamass killing in Nova Scotia. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today is not a day to engage in "partisan bickering."

He insistedthe government has been flexible and responsive to oppositionsuggestions throughout the health crisis.

"We have been engaged with all parties over the course of this pandemic. There have been many good ideas brought forward by business leaders, bycommunity groups, by individual Canadians, but also by MPs from all parties who've heard from citizens in their communitieswhat's needed to be done to help," he said.

"This has been an unprecedented effort across government to try and make sure that we are giving Canadians the help they need to get through this difficult time, and we will continue to do that."

Over the weekend the Liberal government reached a tentative deal with the NDP and Bloc Qubcoisto have one in-person sitting per week. The Conservatives rejected the idea, insisting on more regular meetings each week.

Conservatives say 1 in-person meeting weekly not enough

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said that doing away with 80 per cent of sitting days does not serve the best interests of Canadiansand that more in-person sessions wouldyield better results in terms of accountability, oversight and proposals from opposition parties.

"Millions of Canadians are going to work every single day to help their neighbours through this pandemic. Parliamentarians should be doing the same," he said.

Scheer suggested Trudeau is dodging accountability, preferringthe "controlled" environment of daily news conferences outside his residence at Rideau Cottage to opposition questions in the House of Commons.

Bloc QubcoisLeader Yves-FranoisBlanchet accused the Conservatives of holding Parliament "hostage."

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh saidregular in-person sessions are important to the work of addressing gaps in programs meant to support Canadians and businesses struggling financially through the health crisis, including students.

"We need to make sure more people get access to the help they need and that they get that help as quickly as possible," he said.

Watch:Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says MPs will needto ensure public health measures are followed:

Dr. Tam on MPs meeting in the HOC

4 years ago

Duration 1:26

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says that if Parliament resumes for in-person sessions, MPs will need a plan to ensure public health measures are followed.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said Monday that her advice to parliamentarians is the same as theadvice she's givenother workplaces conducting essential services: maintainphysical distancing, stayhome if you're sick and keep up the hand-washinghygiene.

"I think Parliament, like other essential workplaces, needs to have a plan to make sure all of these measures are implemented as they are having their meetings," she said.

The House had adjourned on March 13 until today, April 20. Green Party MP Paul Manly said that date was only a "placeholder" selected before the severityof the pandemic's global impactwas understood.

He suggested taking part in in-person meetings would violate the rights of MPs from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Those provinces have quarantine orders requiring that travellers returning from outside theprovincesself-isolate whichwould force an MP returning from a meeting in Ottawato stay away from their family members for 14 days upon arriving home.

"This is particularly painful given that, today, in the aftermath of those terrible murders, our colleagues from Nova Scotia cannot gather," he said."They cannot console their bereaved constituents."