Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer called Friday for Parliament to be declared an essential service so a reduced number of MPs can resume their House of Commons duties amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The Conservatives are proposing a motion to do that because Scheer said the daily briefings by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from his home are not good enough to hold the government accountable.
MPs need to be able to ask questions on behalf of their constituents across the country, Scheer said.
The Liberals, he said, have announced hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending to mitigate the damage caused by the pandemic-related shutdown, but have provided no formal financial update. Canadians need to know how the government is spending their money, he added.
害羞草研究所淭he government should not be allowed to hide the information from Canadians or to pick and choose which questions they want to answer and when,害羞草研究所� said Scheer.
害羞草研究所淭his is not a partisan issue. This is about whether or not a country like Canada can have a functional Parliament during a crisis.害羞草研究所�
Scheer proposed that 50 MPs should be allowed in the House for 害羞草研究所渘ormal害羞草研究所� sittings, starting Monday, to conform to public health requirements on physical distancing. He said 18 of them should be Conservatives, proportionate to his party害羞草研究所檚 standings in the full 338-member chamber.
He said the number of support staff in the West Block of Parliament Hill could be reduced as well. Scheer also said he wears a mask while on the Hill, but he took it off for his Friday press conference. Scheer said the party whips can decide how many MPs can safely meet to debate and vote on legislation while respecting physical distancing.
He said all Commons committees need to resume regular hearings via video as part of a plan to restore a 害羞草研究所渘ormal parliamentary business cycle.害羞草研究所�
Currently, the Commons has turned into a special COVID-19 committee, meeting three times a week, twice virtually and once in person.
Trudeau said he wants to see a functioning Parliament, and is open to a 害羞草研究所渉ybrid害羞草研究所� model where some MPs could participate via videoconferencing. He said the parties are negotiating a way forward.
害羞草研究所淲e want what Canadians want, to make sure that there is a functioning Parliament that will ensure that questions and preoccupations from across the country get heard,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said Friday.
MPs could debate non-pandemic matters, but he said that would remain the government害羞草研究所檚 focus.
害羞草研究所淎ll parties are united in wanting to ensure that we continue 害羞草研究所� as we have been 害羞草研究所� to demonstrate that our democracy is strong, and our institutions are functioning not just despite the crisis but because of the crisis.害羞草研究所�
The consistent thread among opposition parties is a demand for more face time with the government 害羞草研究所� even if masked 害羞草研究所攁s they negotiate Parliament害羞草研究所檚 return.
Mike Blanchfield, The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation
