We’ve heard a lot of argument lately among MPs about the importance of keeping the Commons in session during the current emergency. Maybe MPs themselves should start taking the institution more seriously.
In the midst of a deadly global pandemic — the likes of which almost no one alive today has ever experienced — Canada’s federal parties found themselves arguing over the weekend about whether the Parliament of Canada, the foundational institution of our democracy, is capable of organizing a video conference.
In fairness, there were some large principles involved. As large as those principles are, however, they risked getting lost in a very small debate.
However MPs proceed from here, and whatever technological glitches they face, voters have a right to hope they can now rise to meet this remarkable moment.
In light of the current health risk posed by public gatherings, the House of Commons has been mostly adjourned since March 13. A few dozen MPs returned for several hours on March 24 and then again on April 11 to pass emergency legislation. Otherwise, the main chamber has been quiet.
But the parties recently started talking about holding more regular sittings. Perhaps uncomfortable with the amount of airtime government ministers were getting, the Conservatives seemed the ones most eager to resume something resembling the House’s normal schedule.
The weekend seems to have ended with two competing proposals.
The Liberals, Bloc Quebecois, New Democrats and Greens agreed to proceed with one in-person sitting each week and two “virtual” sittings to be conducted through videoconferencing.
The Conservatives wanted three in-person sittings each week.
The Liberals, Bloc, NDP and Greens argued that every in-person meeting of MPs in Ottawa constitutes a health risk. Liberal House leader Pablo Rodriguez noted on Monday that about 50 members of the parliamentary staff are required to attend whenever the House is in session.
The Conservatives suggested the risk could be mitigated and wanted a study of virtual sittings completed before any extraordinary measures are implemented. Though several committees of the House already meet via video and teleconfe