Close X
Sunday, November 24, 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

Bank Of Canada Cuts Key Interest Rate Target While Libs Up Wage Subsidy

Bank Of Canada Cuts Key Interest Rate Target While Libs Up Wage Subsidy
It was the double shock from the novel coronavirus and a sharp drop in oil prices that spurred the Bank of Canada's surprise announcement — its second unscheduled cut this month and third overall this month — to lower its rate by half a percentage point to 0.25 per cent after it started the month at 1.75 per cent.

Bank Of Canada Cuts Key Interest Rate Target While Libs Up Wage Subsidy

Financial Aid Requests Won't Be Hindered By Service Canada Closures: Trudeau

Financial Aid Requests Won't Be Hindered By Service Canada Closures: Trudeau
OTTAWA - Service Canada employees can and should be working from home, despite the growing demand generated by financial-aid applications, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday.

Financial Aid Requests Won't Be Hindered By Service Canada Closures: Trudeau

Translink Limits Bus Seating To Promote Physical Distancing

Roughly half the seats on board buses will have signage installed to indicate that those seats are to be left vacant, which will allow for extra space between customers.

Translink Limits Bus Seating To Promote Physical Distancing

A Death Sentence:' Advocates Warn Of Covid-19 Spread In Jails, Prisons

A Death Sentence:' Advocates Warn Of Covid-19 Spread In Jails, Prisons
Advocates across Canada are calling for the release of non-violent offenders and a unified plan to deal with the health and safety of inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic.    

A Death Sentence:' Advocates Warn Of Covid-19 Spread In Jails, Prisons

Science Needed To Combat Disinformation In Covid Fight: Champagne

Science Needed To Combat Disinformation In Covid Fight: Champagne
OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says Canada and its G7 counterparts are concerned about the spread of disinformation in the COVID-19 fight.

Science Needed To Combat Disinformation In Covid Fight: Champagne

COVID-19 Or No, Iran Must Release Black Boxes From January Crash: Champagne

OTTAWA - Despite the daunting hurdles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Iran must live up to its pledge to co-operate with the investigation into its downing of a commercial airliner in January, says Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.    

COVID-19 Or No, Iran Must Release Black Boxes From January Crash: Champagne