Sunday, July 5, 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

Health Canada recalls more than 50 hand sanitizers

Health Canada recalls more than 50 hand sanitizers
Health Canada is recalling more than 50 hand sanitizers that contain ingredients "not acceptable for use" that may pose health risks.

Health Canada recalls more than 50 hand sanitizers

Battle for donor dollars tightens in Tory race

Battle for donor dollars tightens in Tory race
New data from Elections Canada offers a glimpse into the fundraising efforts of each Conservative leadership campaign — and how the battle for donor dollars has tightened leading up to the final results.

Battle for donor dollars tightens in Tory race

Report finds systemic racism at embattled museum

Report finds systemic racism at embattled museum
Leadership at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is apologizing after an independent report found employees experienced systemic racism and other mistreatment while working at the Winnipeg institution.

Report finds systemic racism at embattled museum

Food and time running out for giant pandas

Food and time running out for giant pandas
Time and food supplies are running out for two giant pandas at the Calgary Zoo. Er Shun and Da Mao arrived in Calgary in 2018, along with cubs Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue, after spending five years at the Toronto Zoo

Food and time running out for giant pandas

Beirut resident recalls moments of panic

Beirut resident recalls moments of panic
A Canadian artist from Montreal heard nothing but thought his apartment in Beirut had been hit by an earthquake as a massive explosion tore through the city's port district Tuesday.

Beirut resident recalls moments of panic

Isaias downgraded from tropical storm

Isaias downgraded from tropical storm
Environment Canada says Isaias has been downgraded from a tropical storm, but tens of thousands of people across southern Quebec are still in the dark due to power outages it caused.

Isaias downgraded from tropical storm