Friday, December 19, 2025
ADVT 
National

Omicron prompts reduction of Liberal MPs in House

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Dec, 2021 05:42 PM
  • Omicron prompts reduction of Liberal MPs in House

The federal government is vastly reducing the number of Liberal MPs present in the House of Commons due to the lightning spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

In addition, government House leader Mark Holland says all regional and national Liberal caucus meetings Wednesday will be entirely virtual.

He says he's informed his opposition counterparts about the governing party's decision to limit its numbers in the House but it will be up to other parties to decide whether to follow suit.

Holland says the Liberals are following the advice of public health officials, who are urging Canadians to avoid mass gatherings as Omicron spreads like wildfire.

Since the new session of Parliament opened last month, the majority of the country's 338 MPs have been showing up for in-person proceedings in the House, where it is difficult to keep two metres apart.

However, the Liberals and New Democrats joined forces to approve a continuation of hybrid sittings, which gives MPs the option of participating virtually in proceedings.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Alberta coal panel accused of bias, U.S. influence

Alberta coal panel accused of bias, U.S. influence
Members of Citizens Supportive of Crowsnest Coal have been writing letters to Premier Jason Kenney and Energy Minister Sonya Savage that suggest the panel's report is likely to be skewed and one-sided.

Alberta coal panel accused of bias, U.S. influence

StatCan: Online census response rate hits new high

StatCan: Online census response rate hits new high
Statistics Canada says about 84 per cent of completed census questionnaires were filled out online. The agency beat its goal to of having 80 per cent of census questionnaires completed online — an option made available for the first time to all regions of the country.

StatCan: Online census response rate hits new high

Biden noncommittal on EV carveout for Canada

Biden noncommittal on EV carveout for Canada
Canada and Mexico both are worried that the tax credit proposal, which if implemented as it stands would be worth up to $12,500 to a new car buyer, is too heavily geared toward U.S.-made vehicles.

Biden noncommittal on EV carveout for Canada

Mayor says farmers in Abbotsford need water

Mayor says farmers in Abbotsford need water
The mayor of a city heavily impacted by flooding in southern British Columbia says farmers who stayed with their animals desperately need water for livestock. Henry Braun said Thursday that water levels in Abbotsford continue to fluctuate in the Sumas Prairie area two days after an evacuation order was issued.

Mayor says farmers in Abbotsford need water

Train leaves Hope, B.C., with about 200 people

Train leaves Hope, B.C., with about 200 people
A late-night evacuation passenger train carrying about 200 people stranded for days by British Columbia's mudslides and floods left Hope for Vancouver Wednesday. Jonathan Abecassis, a spokesman for Canadian National, said the emergency evacuation train was expected to arrive in Vancouver shortly after 10 p.m.

Train leaves Hope, B.C., with about 200 people

Search continues for more bodies in B.C.

Search continues for more bodies in B.C.
The Canadian Armed Forces has been called in to help with recovery efforts in flood-stricken B.C., with the provincial government declaring a state of emergency. The military will provide both air and land support for critical provincial supply chains and in evacuation and rescue efforts.

Search continues for more bodies in B.C.