Parliament approves Liberal motion for reduced sittings for next month
Posted April 20, 2020 1:42 pm.
Last Updated April 20, 2020 11:02 pm.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) — After being forced to return to the House of Commons amid the COVID-19 pandemic, members of Parliament approved a plan Monday for a reduced number of sittings for the next month.
The motion, put forward by the Liberal government, carried on a vote of 22-15.
The motion mirrors a proposal put forward on the weekend and supported by the NDP and Bloc Québécois and will see a limited number of MPs meet in person every Wednesday, and hold virtual sittings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The Conservatives spiked the all-party agreement on the weekend, saying they need at least two in-person sittings to hold the government to account for its response in this pandemic.
That forced Monday’s sitting and the vote, in the wake of the worst mass shooting in Canadian history.
The House of Commons holds a moment of silence to honour the victims of the mass shooting in Nova Scotia #cdnpoli #COVID19
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) April 20, 2020
A moment of silence was held for the victims of the mass shooting in Nova Scotia on the weekend.
The Liberal motion has passed 22 in favour, and 15 against. #cdnpoli #COVID19
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) April 20, 2020
The regular proceedings Monday included question period, when Conservative leader Andrew Scheer challenged the government on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“How many new ventilators has the government been able to obtain under the national procurement strategy?” Scheer asked.
“Mr. Speaker, we’ve sent 400 ventilators to provinces and territories, and have contracts with three Canadian companies who will supply 30,000 ventilators, starting in May,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded.
The new weekly sittings of MPs will continue until at least May 25.
