Friday, December 19, 2025
ADVT 
National

House of Commons can manage virtual voting securely if MPs want it, Speaker says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Jun, 2020 07:14 PM
  • House of Commons can manage virtual voting securely if MPs want it, Speaker says

House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota says he is comfortable the technology is in place to safely allow MPs to vote remotely during the hybrid Parliament sittings.

Rota tells the procedure and House affairs committee today he is confident the process for public votes is secure and that it's up to MPs to decide which kind of system is appropriate to approve.

Security concerns and other barriers to letting MPs vote while attending the House of Commons virtually kept the Liberals and NDP from supporting a return to normal last month.

The House of Commons is continuing with hybrid sittings of the special COVID-19 committee, with some MPs attending in person and others via an adapted online videoconference.

Conservative and Bloc MPs want a return to normal proceedings, which they say allow them to better hold the government accountable for hundreds of billions of dollars in pandemic aid.

Rota says any electronic or virtual voting system must ensure MPs know what they are voting on, that the House can verify their identities and that have enough time to make it to the vote.

MORE National ARTICLES

Vancouver Police make substantial drugs & weapons seizure

Vancouver Police make substantial drugs & weapons seizure
Vancouver Police have seized nearly $3 million worth of street drugs and eight handguns after a four-month investigation into the flow of illicit opioids into Metro Vancouver. Early in 2020, the VPD’s Organized Crime Section launched Project Transit to target offenders engaged in the distribution of illegal opioids.           

Vancouver Police make substantial drugs & weapons seizure

No school-made gifts for mom this year. Dads, get to work

No school-made gifts for mom this year. Dads, get to work
At first, the Facebook meme made me laugh: “What are dads going to do when they realize their kids aren’t bringing home any Mother’s Day gifts from school?” Then it hit me: What AM I going to do?! This Mother’s Day, of course, is different.

No school-made gifts for mom this year. Dads, get to work

Canada to do millionth COVID-19 test but numbers still falling short

Canada to do millionth COVID-19 test but numbers still falling short
Canada is on track to complete its millionth test for COVID-19 sometime in the next 24 hours even as the country's biggest province continues to struggle to hit its own testing target. Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer of Canada, reported that as of Wednesday morning, more than 970,000 tests had been completed nationwide since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.    

Canada to do millionth COVID-19 test but numbers still falling short

Ceremony to be held today for service members who died in helicopter crash

Ceremony to be held today for service members who died in helicopter crash
The Canadian military is to hold a special ramp ceremony today at Canadian Forces Base Trenton to repatriate remains of a service member and honour all six who died in a helicopter crash off the coast of Greece. The Cyclone helicopter carrying six Armed Forces members crashed into the Ionian Sea on April 29.     

Ceremony to be held today for service members who died in helicopter crash

COVID-19 pandemic hammers job market, but there are 'opportunities,' say analysts

COVID-19 pandemic hammers job market, but there are 'opportunities,' say analysts
In the worst employment market in decades, job hunters need to prepare for what will inevitably be a video interview, say employers and job market experts who suggest there are opportunities out there. Statistics Canada reported more than one million Canadians lost their jobs at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in March, which is eight times worse than the previous one-month record during the financial meltdown in January 2009.

COVID-19 pandemic hammers job market, but there are 'opportunities,' say analysts

B.C. Premier John Horgan set to announce slow reopening of economy in pandemic

B.C. Premier John Horgan set to announce slow reopening of economy in pandemic
British Columbia is expected to announce plans today for a gradual reopening of services, but the provincial health officer warns people should stay in their social "bubble" to prevent a surge of COVID-19 cases. Earlier this week, Dr. Bonnie Henry said Premier John Horgan will release details of the plan today, which will be aimed at relaxing restrictions to safely increase social and economic contacts.

B.C. Premier John Horgan set to announce slow reopening of economy in pandemic