SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 62

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 2, 2022 11:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 62 - May/2/22
Mr. Eric Melillo (Kenora, CPC)
  • May/2/22 7:17:24 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Vaughan—Woodbridge for his thoughts. I would just counter by saying that I believe there is a bit more to this motion than the government is letting on. Obviously, it has been making the argument that having longer sittings, more sittings and more time to debate legislation is good. I would certainly agree with that, but this motion allows for the House to not meet quorum and not have an adequate number of members present for those debates, potentially opening the door for members of the government or other parties not to attend and take part in that important discussion. I wonder if the member could speak to that contradiction in the motion and why that would be the case.
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Context: House Hansard - 62 - May/2/22
Mr. Eric Melillo (Kenora, CPC)
  • May/2/22 7:32:25 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, one aspect of this motion is that the government can extend the sittings with the agreement of one other party, and we have heard from multiple speakers on the government side that the justification for that is, of course, that it would represent a majority of Parliament. However, as I understand the motion, should a situation arise where all three opposition parties, including the NDP, were to want to push for extended sittings, they would not have that power. Why does the government believe in the will of Parliament only when it is the will of its party?
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