Saturday, December 20, 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

Canada, U.S. call for end of fossil fuel subsidies

Canada, U.S. call for end of fossil fuel subsidies
Canada's environment minister says he thinks fossil fuel subsidies should be eliminated as United Nations negotiators wrestle over a final text in the closing hours of the Glasgow climate talks. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the subsidies should be phased out with a timeline.

Canada, U.S. call for end of fossil fuel subsidies

Robbery suspect in custody after robbing the same bank twice

Robbery suspect in custody after robbing the same bank twice
Surrey RCMP has arrested a 28-year old man, who is alleged to have robbed the same Whalley bank twice, only weeks apart. On October 16, 2021, Surrey RCMP received a report of a bank robbery in 10200-block of King George Boulevard. The suspect fled with cash prior to police arrival.

Robbery suspect in custody after robbing the same bank twice

Remembrance Day poppy box stolen from A&W in New Westminster

Remembrance Day poppy box stolen from A&W in New Westminster
Police believe there may have been other customers in the restaurant who witnessed the theft. Witnesses were unable to get a description of the suspect but believe he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

Remembrance Day poppy box stolen from A&W in New Westminster

555 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

555 COVID19 cases for Wednesday
There are currently 4,321 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 203,909 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 404 individuals are currently in hospital and 117 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

555 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

Surrey-Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar acclaimed as new chair of BC NDP caucus

Surrey-Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar acclaimed as new chair of BC NDP caucus
Brar, who was first elected in 2004 and was re-elected in 2005, 2009, 2017 and 2020, will begin serving in this leadership role at the end of the fall legislative sitting.

Surrey-Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar acclaimed as new chair of BC NDP caucus

B.C. university launches wind buoy in power idea

B.C. university launches wind buoy in power idea
A highly customized buoy, equipped with a wind turbine and a 3D laser-scanning system, will soon be launched off the Victoria-area coast to transmit live data.

B.C. university launches wind buoy in power idea