44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 25, 2021 10:00AM
- Nov/25/21 10:28:52 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, I have two very quick points. In my home province, the Manitoba legislature has a hybrid system. As it debates over the next 10 days, it will have the option to sit virtually versus in person. It is a progressive, Conservative government.
The member for Beauce is not with us. He will not be able to vote on this particular motion. In the days ahead, there may be members who also might not be able to participate.
Does the government House leader not feel it is somewhat ironic, but very important, that we advocate for those members who would like the opportunity to be fully engaged in every aspect of debating, voting, attending committees and so forth? That is what this motion does.
125 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/25/21 12:32:36 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I find it very difficult to understand why the Conservatives do not support this motion. All they have to do is look within their own ranks to find a member, the member for Beauce, who is not able to be engaged in all the procedures and abilities we have at our fingertips, whether it is debates, votes or possible committees. This is important for all members.
Why would the member opposite deny, by voting against this motion, members of Parliament today and going forward having access to do the fine work we do inside the chamber?
98 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/25/21 4:06:23 p.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, I do not quite understand the Bloc's logic. The legislature of the Province of Manitoba, my home province, is sitting today. It has a hybrid system, which was non-controversial. Everyone understood the safety and health benefits, the need for strong leadership, and it is not a political controversy at all.
We are doing something of a very similar nature. There is a sunset provision, so it ends by the time we get into June. It seems to me that maybe the Bloc was kind of conned into this by its cozy cousin the Conservative Party.
I wonder if the member has any regrets not recognizing that there is absolutely nothing wrong with enfranchising and enabling parliamentarians at a time when they could be infected by COVID to be able to participate fully, like the leader of the official opposition in the Province of Manitoba today.
149 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/25/21 5:07:19 p.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, I do not quite understand why the Conservatives oppose this motion. They are the ones who have decided to make this political.
My daughter gave a virtual speech inside the Manitoba legislature today. In Manitoba, the leader of the official opposition has COVID-19, and because it is virtual he is able to participate as the leader of the official opposition. There is a member of the House today who is not able to come in because of COVID-19. It is a reality that the pandemic is not over. No one is saying that there will be no members inside the House; in fact, it is quite the opposite.
Does the member believe that the Progressive Conservative government in Manitoba is wrong by having a hybrid system? Is it assaulting democracy by having a hybrid system? The Conservative opposition really needs to understand that this is about enabling members like the member's own colleague, the member for Beauce.
162 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/25/21 6:43:58 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Members on the other side of the House know full well it is not appropriate to be talking about the absence or presence of members. I can assure the member that I took the days in which we were hybrid very seriously and I showed up. I might not have been physically in this seat, but I was in the House of Commons. That is why we had the hybrid, and I worked.
82 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/25/21 6:53:19 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, “hypocrisy” is a word that is unparliamentary, so I will not use it. Having said that, I can tell members that the Progressive Conservative Party, the NDP and the Liberal Party—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
41 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/25/21 6:53:47 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I should have known better. You are right on the ball.
The Conservative Party in Manitoba, the Liberal Party in Manitoba and the NDP in Manitoba are today sitting in a hybrid system. They are having question period. They actually have members of the legislative assembly who have COVID-19, and they are able to continue on. It seems it is just the Conservative Party, and I do not know how they conned the Bloc into it, that has made the decision that somehow this is anti-democratic. However, the hybrid system is something we can all benefit from.
The pandemic is not behind us, and my question to the member is: Will he not recognize what the Province of Manitoba and other jurisdictions have? There is nothing wrong with having a hybrid, and this has a sunset. It ends in June.
144 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Nov/25/21 7:11:06 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if we can continue using the member for Beauce as an example. He was around other members of the Conservative caucus, which means there are members who no doubt have to potentially self-quarantine. The opposition House leader indicated that he was getting his second test today. We could have a situation where we could have many members of the official opposition, because of the pandemic, being completely disengaged without a motion of this nature passing.
Would the member acknowledge that is not a healthy thing for our Parliament?
93 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
