SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 212

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 13, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
Mr. Ken McDonald
  • Jun/13/23 4:54:00 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Could you remind individuals, when they are giving a speech, to not to have their phones on their desktops close to the microphone when they are speaking? I can hear vibrating in my earpiece when somebody else is speaking. I did not want to raise it when the member was speaking and interrupt the flow of his speech.
67 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
Mr. Ken McDonald (Avalon, Lib.)
  • Jun/13/23 7:03:53 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, who sits very close to me, for his wonderful speech this evening. I believe the hybrid Parliament is a good thing, but I am not in favour of its being abused by members here in the House. It should be available, yes, for somebody who needs it. As the member said, he had surgery earlier this year and was able to vote on the app. I had surgery as well, on February 14, actually, and shovelled snow two days later. However, it is a privilege and an honour to be able sit and stand in this House as one of 338 people. I spend time here even when I am not on House duty. I love sitting in the House and having people sit around me instead of being in the office in my constituency with nobody. Does the member agree that it is a good policy to have, but it should not be allowed to be abused? People who can be here should be here.
172 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
Mr. Ken McDonald (Avalon, Lib.)
  • Jun/13/23 9:08:53 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I certainly do not disagree with everything the member opposite had to say about the Standing Orders. However, I would like him to comment on the individuals who are present in the House on any given day during question period. All of a sudden, when question period is over and the Speaker is introducing a vote coming up or is reading what the vote is about, people on both sides of the House are exiting like rats leaving a sinking ship. Then later we will see it come up on screen that they voted virtually. They were sitting here in the House before question period ended, yet they scurried out and voted electronically. Would he like to comment on that? I think it is wrong. If a member is here, they should stay here and vote. That is just my own perspective. Whether it is the government's perspective or the opposition's perspective, I do not know, but I would like the member to comment on that particular issue.
172 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border