As MPs consider future of hybrid sittings, 'big picture' considerations needed, Speaker says
As MPs kicked off a study on the future of the House of Commons' use of a hybrid sitting structure, Speaker Anthony Rota is calling for members of Parliament to consider the "big picture" in making their recommendations as to whether it's time to retire the virtual elements of proceedings that were ushered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Tuesday, the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) began a review of the hybrid sitting model, hearing from top House of Commons officials as well as MPs current and past on the utilization of the hybrid model and voting app to see what worked, or didn't, in the context of potentially maintaining these measures long-term.
The study was requested as part of the government's motion that locked in hybrid provisions—allowing MPs to continue to participate virtually in debates and committee meetings, as well as vote remotely from anywhere in Canada—through 2023, pending the PROC's findings and the state of the pandemic.
While the provisions remain in place, giving MPs the option to participate remotely, by and large the majority of elected federal officials have been showing up in person in the House of Commons since the fall sitting began in September. The House of Commons eased off on COVID-19 public health measures, such as the vaccine and mask mandates, at the end of the spring sitting.
During his testimony, Rota spoke of both the flexibility the hybrid format has allowed as well as the challenges it has presented both technically and for decorum, telling his colleagues that there are some "big picture questions" the committee may want to explore as part of this review.
"For example, should the House continue to allow remote participations for all members in any situation at any time? Or should this option be available under specific circumstances that the House will define? And, will these provisions apply differently in the chamber, in committees, or in other parliamentary activities?" Rota said. "For example, if the House retains its use of the electronic voting app, can the video conferencing system be maintained and used as a backup?"
Coming out in support of pursuing "parameters" under which MPs could opt to continue participating remotely should the hybrid structure be upheld, Rota said he doesn't think deciding to not fly or drive to Ottawa should be something MPs do "willy-nilly," rather something used in cases of illness or other special circumstances.
While the House of Commons administration worked expeditiously to find innovative and historic new ways for MPs to adapt to the COVID-19 reality while keeping up with their work of debating and passing legislation, the provisions were not meant to be permanent.
As MPs have adjusted to having the option, many have spoken about how it's allowed them to essentially be two places in one: available to their constituents as well as able to participate in proceedings in Ottawa. Though, over the nearly two years of its use, there have been several snafus and more serious transgressions associated with the hybrid-sitting model.
From poor audio and video quality and connectivity issues, to MPs having to apologize for taking the debate into the toilet with them. There's also the extensive impact on parliamentary interpreters and as a result, constraining committee schedules.
There have also been accusations of ministers dodging in-person questioning by Zooming in from Ottawa rather than showing up in the Chamber in person. That's become a less prevalent concern as more public health rules have been lifted.
Prior to the pandemic-era sitting structure coming into effect, MPs did find workarounds to have their votes counted if they could not be present through procedural measures like pairing votes, but did not have the ability to participate in debate without being in the Chamber in person.
MPS SPLIT ON WHETHER TO END HYBRID
During Tuesday's meeting, some MPs made their positions clear on both sides of the issue, including a few who shared their personal experiences.
Testifying before the PROC, Liberal MP from British Columbia Parm Bains shared with his colleagues how hybrid Parliament has allowed him to still do his job as an MP while receiving dialysis and later recovering from a kidney transplant.
"The hybrid provisions are vital to the pressures caused by uncontrollable long absences from Ottawa," he said. "The hybrid provisions allowed me to fulfill my parliamentary obligations, limit my exposure, maintain strong mental health, and reduce the fears my family had as they supported me through my health journey."
During the hearing some Conservative MPs spoke about their reservations about continuing with the hybrid format as something that would appear to be making their working lives easier while many Canadians are struggling. The federal Conservative caucus was generally strongly against maintaining the virtual provisions heading into the fall sitting.
Conservative MP from Saskatchewan Rosemarie Falk cautioned her colleagues about the ramifications of "setting a precedent of working while you're sick," and said that in her experience as a mom attempting hybrid House of Commons work, she often found family obligations and local events were competing for her time.
"There seems to be an expectation that because you are physically present, you can do all of these and that you can do it to your fullest. And I would say in reality, that is actually to the detriment of us executing our parliamentary responsibilities," Falk said.
Though during the hearing, two former Conservative MPs, Dona Cadman and Leo Duguay, both suggested there could be merits in maintaining hybrid provisions as an option for MPs, citing their experiences with long commutes to their riding, personal sacrifices made to be in Ottawa, and the evolutions with technology since their time in the House, as factors.
The NDP are largely supportive of continuing hybrid sittings, with British Columbia MP Laurel Collins advocating for making the format permanent, saying that hybrid sittings allowed her to keep working while in the final months of her pregnancy.
"Not every woman wants to do that, but every woman deserves the choice and women deserve the choice to participate," Collins said, noting she also was able to participate in Parliament as a result of hybrid when she contracted COVID-19, and when her father died.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you want more young women to enter politics, if you want more women to stay in politics, make Parliament more family-friendly. And hybrid Parliament is a tangible way to do that," Collins said.
New Democrats are calling for the hybrid format to be "strengthened," citing a need to ensure more accountability requirements for the government, as well as to ensure interpreter and translation resources are not continuously strained.
The PROC is expected to continue its study in the coming weeks, and is welcoming feedback from additional MPs before reporting back to the House of Commons with its recommendations.
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Remembering legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole. Oh baby, what a life
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Local Spotlight
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fergus, Ont. man feels nickel-and-dimed for $0.05 property tax bill
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
'I'm committed': Oilers fan won't cut hair until Stanley Cup comes to Edmonton
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
'It's not my father's body!' Wrong man sent home after death on family vacation in Cuba
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
'Once is too many times': Education assistants facing rising violence in classrooms
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
What is capital gains tax? How is it going to affect the economy and the younger generations?
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
UBC football star turning heads in lead up to NFL draft
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.