Tuesday, July 7, 2026
ADVT 
National

Parties agree on hybrid Commons sittings

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Sep, 2020 08:04 PM
  • Parties agree on hybrid Commons sittings

The House of Commons will sit this fall with most MPs participating by video link so they can stay physically apart during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez introduced a motion to set the rules for "hybrid" sittings as the Commons sat for the first time in months Wednesday afternoon.

Those include having MPs vote via video conference until a secure remote voting application for smartphones is ready, and reducing the number of members who have to be physically present for quorum.

The plan also includes reconstituting committees such as a special body examining Canada-China relations.

The Conservatives had argued for in-person sittings only, with limited numbers of MPs in the chamber, and had opposed electronic voting.

But the MPs present Wednesday, including Tories, approved the plan unanimously.

The arrangement is to stay in place until Dec. 11, though MPs could vote to extend it then.

MORE National ARTICLES

U.S., Mexico to talk USMCA without Canada

U.S., Mexico to talk USMCA without Canada
The president of Mexico is in Washington to meet with President Donald Trump and celebrate North America's new trade deal — a celebration in which Canada is not taking part.

U.S., Mexico to talk USMCA without Canada

Ban on vaping ads to take effect next month

Ban on vaping ads to take effect next month
Ottawa's new rules restricting the promotion of vaping products in places young people can access are set to come into effect next month.

Ban on vaping ads to take effect next month

Lean, mean, biting machines at military base

Lean, mean, biting machines at military base
A Canadian Forces base in Alberta is recruiting a new battalion of lean, mean, eating machines for a mission that will require limited action this summer.

Lean, mean, biting machines at military base

Rideau Hall incident shows systemic racism: Singh

Rideau Hall incident shows systemic racism: Singh
If the Rideau Hall intruder had been a person of colour, the outcome of last week's events in Ottawa would have been very different, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Wednesday.

Rideau Hall incident shows systemic racism: Singh

Vancouver Police Report Substantial Increase In Replica Gun Seizures

Vancouver Police Report Substantial Increase In Replica Gun Seizures
Vancouver Police are reporting a large increase in the number of replica gun seizures in Vancouver and an increase in the frequency with which police encounter highly realistic replica firearms. “In the first six months of 2020, seizures of replica guns are up over 107 per cent, compared to the same time period in 2018.

Vancouver Police Report Substantial Increase In Replica Gun Seizures

No sign of payments for disabled Canadians

No sign of payments for disabled Canadians
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promise to provide a $600 payment to disabled Canadians to help with additional costs in the COVID-19 pandemic remains in limbo.

No sign of payments for disabled Canadians