Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canadian MPs meet online in first virtual session of House of Commons

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Apr, 2020 07:02 PM
  • Canadian MPs meet online in first virtual session of House of Commons

Canada's first-ever virtual House of Commons kicked off this afternoon with almost 90 per cent of MPs dialed in to start. The House of Commons special committee on COVID-19 is meeting via videoconference this afternoon. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said in his opening statement that he could see that 297 of the 338 MPs were online at that moment.

The special committee was struck as a way to circumvent the rules that govern how official sittings must occur, while further discussions are held about whether those rules can be changed to allow virtual sittings of the House officially.

Just as many Canadians have discovered moving in-person meetings to the virtual world, MPs experienced some technical glitches — mostly with the audio.

Some MPs couldn't figure out how to unmute themselves, others accidentally began to comment when they didn't mean to unmute. The biggest problem appeared to be with the translation, a glitch that continually had some MPs complaining they couldn't hear or that the translation was being played at the same volume as the actual speaker.

Most MPs appeared good-humoured about the problems. Health Minister Patty Hajdu laughed at herself when she was unable to initially figure out how to unmute her microphone.

Being outside the chamber brings its own host of issues, though thus far no children or pets have made an appearance.

Blanchet did have to pause his opening speech because something in his office was ringing. He assured people it was not a fire alarm as he tried to find the source of the noise. Unlike the real House of Commons, Speaker Anthony Rota did not chastise him for the interruption.

He did however chastise MPs he caught taking photos of their screens. Much like photos are not allowed to be taken during House or committee proceedings, Rota told them they are not to take photos of MPs on their screens.

He said he knows it's a "historic" day but warned them not to post any photos they have taken on social media.

While Rota and MPs can see squares of anyone who is dialed in, the public can only see the person who is speaking, which is similar to the way parliamentary sittings are broadcast in normal times.

Hajdu was the first member of cabinet to issue a statement, thanking front-line and essential workers for their service, and Canadians for doing their part to help flatten the curve of the COVID-19 outbreak in Canada.

"We are seeing hopeful evidence that Canada's COVID-19 epidemic is slowing down," she said.

She said the length of time it is taking for the total number of confirmed cases to double, has gone from about three days in late March to more than 16 days now. However Hajdu said the outbreaks in long-term care homes are responsible for more than three-quarters of all deaths in Canada.

"This is indeed a tragedy," she said.

The rest of the afternoon is now reserved for questions from MPs to ministers, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is participating in the virtual committee meeting from his home office in Ottawa.

MORE National ARTICLES

Demand will fuel B.C. real estate in 2021 after COVID recession: report

Demand will fuel B.C. real estate in 2021 after COVID recession: report
A report from the B.C. Real Estate Association says the 2020 COVID-driven recession will be deep, although it could be shorter than other Canadian economic downturns. The market intelligence report released Monday by the association says it expects home sales to sink 30 to 40 per cent for April 2020. 

Demand will fuel B.C. real estate in 2021 after COVID recession: report

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirms border closure, which began on March 21 and was set to expire on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirms border closure, which began on March 21 and was set to expire on Tuesday.
Canadian officials acknowledged some regions of the country could be closer to re-opening parts of the economy than others, but continued to stress a careful approach as the border closure with the hard-hit United States was extended for another 30 days during the COVID-19 crisis. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed the extension on Saturday for the closure restricting non-essential travel across the border, which began on March 21 and was set to expire on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirms border closure, which began on March 21 and was set to expire on Tuesday.

Feds pledge $306M aid for Indigenous businesses suffering COVID-19 losses

Feds pledge $306M aid for Indigenous businesses suffering COVID-19 losses
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government will provide $306 million in funding to help small and medium-sized Indigenous businesses suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Feds pledge $306M aid for Indigenous businesses suffering COVID-19 losses

3 new COVID-19 deaths in B.C. for 81 total, says provincial health officer

3 new COVID-19 deaths in B.C. for 81 total, says provincial health officer
B.C's provincial health officer says three more people in the province have died after testing positive for COVID-19. Dr. Bonnie Henry says the latest deaths came from long-term care facilities and bring the province's total up to 81 deaths. The province has 29 new cases for a total of 1,647.

3 new COVID-19 deaths in B.C. for 81 total, says provincial health officer

Liberals pledge financial aid to sectors of economy hit hard by COVID-19

Liberals pledge financial aid to sectors of economy hit hard by COVID-19
On Friday, the Liberals announced $1.7 billion to help clean up "orphaned wells" in oil-producing provinces, and a $750-million fund to cut methane emissions by providing loans to companies.    

Liberals pledge financial aid to sectors of economy hit hard by COVID-19

Officials set to release estimates of the extent of COVID-19 spread in B.C.

British Columbia is preparing to release its latest estimates of how the new coronavirus may spread through the province over the coming months. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, Health Minister Adrian Dix and health ministry officials release the epidemiological modelling later today.

Officials set to release estimates of the extent of COVID-19 spread in B.C.