Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

MPs reviewing virtual voting options to bolster COVID-19 Parliament

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Jul, 2020 06:36 PM
  • MPs reviewing virtual voting options to bolster COVID-19 Parliament

Virtual voting options are under review by the committee of MPs tasked with figuring out how to run Parliament in the COVID-19 era.

Speaker Anthony Rota told MPs today that virtual voting could be done using a special mobile app that would give MPs the option of voting from nearly anywhere.

MPs have been grappling since March with how they can fulfil their obligations when COVID-19 restrictions have largely precluded business as usual in the House of Commons.

Several compromises have been reached along the way, including a hybrid model that allows MPs to participate in person or virtually in debates or committee meetings.

But those debates and meetings have been limited in scope and the Opposition Conservatives have pressed for a full return to business.

The Liberals have said one thing that would need to be sorted out, however, is virtual voting to limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission among hundreds of MPs who would otherwise pack the Commons chamber.

MORE National ARTICLES

Extending CERB for months could double $60-billion budget, PBO report suggests

Extending CERB for months could double $60-billion budget, PBO report suggests
Parliament's spending watchdog says extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to provide more weeks of payments, and letting people earn some extra income, would cost the federal treasury an additional $64 billion.

Extending CERB for months could double $60-billion budget, PBO report suggests

Freeland says police must acknowledge racism after senior RCMP officer's denial

Freeland says police must acknowledge racism after senior RCMP officer's denial
All federal agencies, including the police, must understand that systemic racism is a problem in Canada, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says.

Freeland says police must acknowledge racism after senior RCMP officer's denial

Garneau asks Iran to explain to UN aviation council where black boxes are

Garneau asks Iran to explain to UN aviation council where black boxes are
Canada wants Iran to explain why it still hasn't handed over the black boxes from the Ukrainian jetliner that was shot down by Iranian military near Tehran on Jan. 8, Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Wednesday.

Garneau asks Iran to explain to UN aviation council where black boxes are

Greta Thunberg pushes Canada, Norway, on climate before UN Security Council vote

Greta Thunberg pushes Canada, Norway, on climate before UN Security Council vote
Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is urging developing island nations to use the upcoming United Nations Security Council election as leverage to push Canada and Norway to step up their games on climate change.

Greta Thunberg pushes Canada, Norway, on climate before UN Security Council vote

Teach Black history to fight racism, starting in elementary school: students

Teach Black history to fight racism, starting in elementary school: students
Daniel Afolabi remembers one soccer game in particular at age nine in Okotoks, Alta., when a player on the opposing team refused to shake his hand.

Teach Black history to fight racism, starting in elementary school: students

B.C. film industry given go-ahead to restart productions halted due to COVID-19

B.C. film industry given go-ahead to restart productions halted due to COVID-19
British Columbia's film industry has been given the go-ahead to restart production after WorkSafeBC released new health and safety guidelines to contain the spread of COVID-19.

B.C. film industry given go-ahead to restart productions halted due to COVID-19