The House of Commons is beginning to ease some COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place throughout the pandemic, but one measure staying until the end of June will be the mask mandate.
House Speaker Anthony Rota announced Thursday that the Board of Internal Economy— which oversees administrative matters—has decided that masks will still be required for MPs and any other people who enter the buildings that are part of the House precinct.
This means that until at least the end of the spring sitting on June 23, anyone who works in and around the House will need to continue wearing masks while in all common areas, except for when eating, drinking, or seated at their desk if distanced from others.
The mask mandate does not apply to MPs when they are at their place in the chamber, when speaking at a press conference, or when participating in a House of Commons committee meeting in person.
“However, it is strongly recommended that Members wear a mask / face covering when they are at their place during parliamentary proceedings,” reads the latest guidance.
Other restrictions will gradually be rolled back, seeing previously-suspended non-essential parliamentary activities such as committee travel and public visitor access to the chamber resume in stages.
For the first time since the pandemic began, the public viewing gallery in the House chamber as well as public access to observe committee meetings will resume the week of April 25.
Then, the week of May 16 will see guided tours and general public access resume, with the potential for capacity limits to be imposed if needed.
The House maintaining its masking rules is in contrast with the province in which Parliament is located. Ontario announced on Wednesday that masks will not be required in most indoor settings starting March 21.
In a statement, Rota said the House’s policy approach reflects “current public health guidelines and advice.”
In November, MPs voted to revive the hybrid sitting format, meaning members of the 44th Parliament have the option of working from home until at least June 23.
As a result of this decision, MPs are able to vote remotely using an app on their phones, and virtually participate from their homes or offices and still appear, via screens, inside the chamber, or at House committee meetings.
There is no capacity limit in the chamber though, so if every MP wanted to show up in person, they can.
The House also continues to have a vaccine mandate in effect, requiring anyone who wants to enter House of Commons buildings within the parliamentary precinct to show either proof of vaccination, or a recent negative rapid test and valid medical exemption.
