House of Commons: Latest News

All news where House of Commons is mentioned

24.06.2022 / 07:27

Extreme intoxication bill becomes law after flying through Senate

The Senate voted today to rubber-stamp the government’s extreme intoxication bill after the House of Commons rushed its passage yesterday.

David Lametti Bill 100 (100) House of Commons Senate

Canadians are voting in 4 federal byelections. Here’s what to watch for

House of Commons Monday in a handful of byelections that political watchers say could expose rifts within the Conservative party and bring a new Liberal cabinet hopeful into the fold.The Liberals are expected to hold onto seats in Winnipeg and Montreal, said Philippe J.

Andrew Scheer Pierre Poilievre Conservative Party Canada county Oxford House of Commons Canadian Politics Liberal Party Canada News

Did Trudeau drop an ‘F-bomb’ in Parliament? Conservatives say he did: ‘Not fuddle-duddle’

Much has been made of the political legacy Justin Trudeau has to live up to as he follows in the footsteps of his father, a former prime minister.

Justin Trudeau county Elliott city Pierre, county Elliott House of Commons

Emergency House of Commons debate on COVID-19 devolves into finger-pointing

COVID-19 pandemic has devolved into another round of partisan finger-pointing.Veteran Green MP Elizabeth May requested the debate, appealing to MPs to stop the blame game and think about how Canada can develop a more nationally co-ordinated approach to the pandemic that is raging out of control in some provinces.Both the Greens and NDP suggest it’s time for the federal government to invoke the Emergencies Act, which would enable it to shut down interprovincial travel and lockdown areas experiencing community spread of the more contagious variants of COVID-19 — rather than leaving it up to provincial and territorial governments.

Elizabeth May Canada House of Commons Parliament Coronavirus

Virtual voting begins in Parliament with debut of phone app

Parliament are set to start voting on bills and motions using their mobile devices.The debut of a mobile voting app is the latest adaptation of the parliamentary process during the COVID-19 pandemic.

House of Commons Parliament Coronavirus

Conservative MP David Sweet joins chorus calling for end to COVID-19 restrictions

COVID-19 lockdowns.Flamborough-Glanbrook MP David Sweet says the pandemic-related restrictions are causing huge psychological and economic damage.He says the public health measures should focus on vulnerable communities, not healthy individuals. Canada to receive 1st AstraZeneca vaccine shipment as confusion lingers Sweet took part in non-essential travel earlier this year and was then removed from his post as chair of a House of Commons committee.

Canada Ontario House of Commons Coronavirus

Liberals dodging government accountability with interpreter shortage, Tories say

Liberals are using a pandemic-induced shortage of translators to shut down House of Commons committees when they raise issues that cause the government discomfort.Conservative whip Blake Richards points to a meeting of the health committee last Friday, which was abruptly cut short by Liberal chair Ron McKinnon announcing that the committee would not have any Commons staff resources, including interpreters, after 4:30 p.m.At the time, Liberal members of the committee had been filibustering opposition attempts to pass a motion demanding disclosure of the contracts the government has signed with pharmaceutical companies for COVID-19 vaccines.Richards says other committees have been similarly shut down at crucial moments.

county Dodge politics House of Commons Coronavirus

‘Political football’: Freeland pushes Tories to pass COVID-19 relief bill quickly

Chrystia Freeland is appealing to the official Opposition Conservatives to hasten passage of a COVID-19 relief bill through the House of Commons.The appeal is in a letter from Freeland to Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole in which the deputy prime minister says the Tories are dragging their feet on the proposed legislation for no good reason.

Erin Otoole Conservative Party House of Commons Coronavirus

Parliament adjourns without resolving dispute over how it should resume in 2021

COVID-19 — expired Friday.Without an agreement about how to proceed in future, the Commons will resume all normal operations the next time it sits. 1st electronic vote in House of Commons history plagued by technical glitches It is currently scheduled to resume on Jan.

coronavirus canada House of Commons Coronavirus

COMMENTARY: Canadians should embrace the poppy — for the right reasons

usurped) is that we as a country care very deeply about this symbol and what it represents.Perhaps, then, we could avoid at least some of the outrage and controversy if we acknowledge that the poppy and Remembrance Day itself are not in imminent peril. Quite the opposite, in fact.As it turned out, the Great Poppy Controversy of 2020 was over almost as soon as it began.

Doug Ford Justin Trudeau Canada House of Commons Commentary Coronavirus Remembrance Day

1st electronic vote in House of Commons history plagued by technical glitches

House of Commons, a historic occasion marked by numerous technical glitches, lengthy delays and cameo appearances by some of their kids and even a family dog.The vote was on a Bloc Quebecois sub-amendment to a Conservative amendment to last week’s throne speech, a routine matter that normally would have taken 15 minutes.

covid-19 House of Commons Parliament Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Most MPs to participate in House of Commons via video this fall

COVID-19 pandemic.Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez introduced a motion to set the rules for “hybrid” sittings as the Commons sat for the first time in months this afternoon. As coronavirus cases spike, Trudeau must strike throne speech balance: strategists Those include having MPs vote via video conference until a secure remote voting application for smartphones is ready.The Conservatives have argued for in-person sittings only, with limited numbers of MPs in the chamber.But the MPs present, including Tories, approved the plan unanimously.The arrangement is to stay in place until Dec.

Pablo Rodriguez coronavirus Ottawa House of Commons Coronavirus

House of Commons tests virtual voting ahead of throne speech

Parliament Wednesday.The Liberal minority government is set to deliver a speech from the throne to lay out an updated version of its coronavirus pandemic response plan, but also how it intends to guide the country forward afterwards.

Justin Trudeau covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

COMMENTARY: Prime Minister Trudeau plays his hand in game of election poker

COVID-19 pandemic.“As we’ve been struggling with this pandemic, we’ve also seen, laid visible, many different weaknesses within Canadian society, gaps in our social safety net, people who are falling through the cracks,” Trudeau said.“More than ever, we need an economy that benefits all Canadians.” Most Canadians comfortable with an election amid coronavirus — what would it look like? It sets up a throne speech expected to contain lofty, ambitious and expensive goals like a possible new national drug plan, child-care programs and expanded social programs.Then it will be time for MPs to vote.

Justin Trudeau Conservative Party House of Commons Commentary Election

Parliament is back in 2 weeks — no one knows how it will function

COVID-19 pandemic.The Liberal government has proposed a full resumption of parliamentary business using a hybrid model — a limited number of MPs actually sitting in the House of Commons and the rest participating online, including by voting electronically.

Justin Trudeau Anthony Rota House of Commons Parliament Coronavirus

Trudeau not cutting vacation short for rare summer sitting of House

Justin Trudeau’s ethical conduct will be put under an opposition microscope Wednesday during a rare summer sitting of the House of Commons — but the prime minister won’t be there.Trudeau is on vacation with his family and his office says he won’t be cutting it short to attend the special parliamentary sitting.It’s not clear that Finance Minister Bill Morneau will be there either.Trudeau and Morneau are under investigation by the federal ethics watchdog for possible conflicts of interest arising from the government’s decision to hand the administration of a student grant program to WE Charity.Both have close family connections to the charity and have apologized for not recusing themselves from the decision.Trudeau’s office points out that

Justin Trudeau Bill Morneau covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

Wage subsidy extension, disability grant for COVID-19 to face Senate vote

Revamped coronavirus wage subsidy program might help more businesses, industry says

covid-19 coronavirus canada House of Commons Coronavirus

Coronavirus: MPs should prepare for remote voting outside Ottawa, committee says

House of Commons works says the chamber should spend the summer getting ready for MPs to participate and vote from outside Ottawa.The group said in a report released Tuesday that COVID-19 will likely make it too dangerous for MPs to gather in large numbers when the Commons is due to resume its regular business in September, especially for those who need to travel long distances.The committee wants to take the videoconferencing system MPs have been using for meetings for the last several months and add a secure voting system, so more normal business can go on, with some MPs physically in Parliament and some not.Since the House of Commons broke up as the COVID-19 pandemic hit Canada in March, it’s used two main meeting formats.One is a

Canada city Ottawa covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

Liberals push to pass bill to extend wage-subsidy program, disability grants

wage-subsidy program, send a special payment to people with disabilities and extend some legal deadlines for court cases.Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the wage-subsidy program needs to be extended to December and have its criteria loosened a little, so business can re-open and employ workers even if trade is slow at first as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Bill Morneau Canada covid-19 coronavirus canada House of Commons Coronavirus

Bloc Québécois to support Liberal bill expanding, extending coronavirus measures

Bloc Québécois says it’ll support a bill to extend the federal emergency wage subsidy and make payments to people with disabilities to help with COVID-19 costs when the House of Commons meets on Monday.In a statement, party House leader Alain Therrien said the measures proposed by the Liberal government are in keeping with demands the Bloc has made.Finance Minister Bill Morneau said Friday the Liberals want to give wage supports to a wider range of businesses.

Bill Morneau Bloc Quebecois covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

House of Commons ethics committee begins probe into WE Charity deal

WE Charity to run a massive student-volunteering program.WE gave up running the $912-million program amid controversy over hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees the WE organization paid to members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s family for appearances at WE events.Trudeau has said he should have recused himself from the decision but didn’t.

Justin Trudeau Bill Morneau covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

Liberals seek to recall House of Commons to pass more coronavirus measures

Liberal government is seeking to recall the House of Commons to pass another round of measures to deal with COVID-19.Opposition parties were notified Thursday of the new legislation and the potential for the Commons to deal with it early next week.

Justin Trudeau covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

‘You have to show up’: NDP MP questions virtual attendance of Alberta Tories

COVID-19 committee meetings.The Commons, which had largely been adjourned since mid-March to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, initially only met to pass emergency aid legislation and to come to a new agreement on how the chamber should function.In late May, the New Democrats joined forces with the governing Liberals to waive normal proceedings for another four months and continue with an expanded version of a special COVID-19 committee that has acted as a stand-in for the chamber.Both Conservative and Bloc Quebecois MPs voted against the virtual sittings because they wanted more parliamentary oversight.There have been 14 of the new hybrid sessions since the change at the end of May, but a tally by the NDP shows the average

covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Conservatives want in person Parliament but no electronic voting

Conservatives have crusaded for a return to parliamentary business as usual but they’re opposed to the one thing Liberals and New Democrats insist is necessary to do that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: electronic voting.Conservative House leader Candice Bergen says her party is suspicious of anything promoted by the Liberals that would keep most MPs out of the House of Commons and, in her view, help the government avoid accountability.Besides, she says there are other options that would allow all 338 MPs to vote in person in the chamber while maintaining physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.In a letter to Commons Speaker Anthony Rota earlier this month, Bergen suggested six different options, including having MPs

Justin Trudeau Anthony Rota Candice Bergen county Person covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

Grocery giants called to testify before MPs over ending employee wage top-ups for COVID-19

coronavirus pandemic have been called to explain their decision to MPs.In a unanimous vote, the 11-member House of Commons industry committee agreed to call Loblaw Companies, Metro and Empire Co. — owner of Sobeys, Safeway and FreshCo — to testify on why they cancelled the bonus pay for employees on the same day last week.

covid-19 House of Commons Metro Coronavirus

CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie testifies before Ontario committee on finance

The commissioner has said the 2020 CFL season would start in September, at the earliest, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.But Ambrosie has also stated the cancellation of the entire ’20 campaign remains very possible.

Randy Ambrosie covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

Jagmeet Singh booted from House of Commons for calling Bloc MP ‘racist’

Jagmeet Singh did not yield Wednesday after being barred from the House of Commons for calling a Bloc Québécois MP racist when he blocked a New Democrat motion on RCMP discrimination.“I was angry at the moment and I stand by it,” Singh told a hastily arranged news conference.“In that moment, I saw the face of racism.” Singh had asked the Commons to recognize there is systemic racism in the RCMP and to call on the government to review the police force’s budget, ensure the Mounties are truly accountable, examine the Mounties’ use of force, and boost non-police spending on mental health and addiction support.There was at least one objection that derailed the move, though it was unclear who said no.The Speaker asked Singh to apologize for

Jagmeet Singh Bloc Quebecois House of Commons RCMP

Organized crime, identity thieves targeting CERB, Parliamentary committee told

Canada Emergency Response Benefit are needed because organized crime and identity thieves are trying to scam the program, a House of Commons committee was told Thursday.

Canada covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

British MP tested for Covid-19 after speaking in House of Commons

A British Conservative MP has been tested for coronavirus after becoming visibly unwell in the House of Commons chamber.

Boris Johnson Alok Sharma Ed Miliband Britain World UK House of Commons Coronavirus

Remote voting amid coronavirus can be done securely: House of Commons Speaker

House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota says he is comfortable the technology is in place to safely allow MPs to vote remotely during the hybrid Parliament sittings.

Anthony Rota covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Senate to stay closed two more weeks, until June 16

The Senate is staying closed for two more weeks, not planning to sit again until June 16.

politics House of Commons Parliament Senate

Oil industry says coronavirus support hard to access, not coming fast enough

Representatives from Canada’s oilpatch said Thursday they don’t know of a single energy company that has yet benefited from any of Ottawa’s pandemic-inspired loan programs and many think the cost to access them is too high.

Canada city Ottawa covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

Coronavirus: MPs to gather virtually, in person in the House of Commons

Members of Parliament will make history today as a few dozen of them gather in the House of Commons where they’ll be joined by the other 300-odd MPs participating via videoconference.

Justin Trudeau covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

Parliament can’t fully resume without virtual voting in place, Trudeau says

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says ensuring members of Parliament can vote remotely is holding back a return to more normal House of Commons sittings.

Justin Trudeau House of Commons Parliament Coronavirus

Coronavirus: MPs set to meet to decide on resuming Parliament amid COVID-19

The House of Commons is meeting today to decide, again, how it’s going to function as COVID-19 restrictions gradually lift across the country.

city Ottawa covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

MPs to resume debate over House of Commons schedule amid coronavirus pandemic

The battle over the future of Parliament in the age of COVID-19 will resume in earnest Monday when a small group of MPs returns to the floor of the House of Commons to argue about the path forward.

covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Talks over if, how House of Commons should resume continue

Intense behind-the-scenes negotiations are to continue today among federal political parties over how Parliament should function as the COVID-19 crisis drags on.

covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

Conservatives propose declaring Parliament an ‘essential service’ amid COVID-19 crisis

Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer wants Parliament declared an essential service so a reduced number of MPs can resume their House of Commons duties amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Justin Trudeau Andrew Scheer covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Bloc threatens supporting in-person HoC sittings unless demands met

The Bloc Quebecois is threatening to support a resumption of in-person sittings of the House of Commons five days a week if the Trudeau government doesn’t agree to a number of demands — including delivering an economic update next month and holding modified sittings for at least four weeks during the summer.

Yves François Blanchet covid-19 House of Commons Parliament Coronavirus

Scheer presses for more House of Commons powers as coronavirus crisis stretches on

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says more parliamentary powers must be restored to properly scrutinize the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrew Scheer covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

Coronavirus: Committee recommends moving to fully virtual Parliament

An all-party committee is recommending the House of Commons hold additional virtual sittings to conduct all its regular business — including voting — during the COVID-19 pandemic.

House of Commons Parliament Coronavirus

Conservatives prepare to grill government in return to Parliament amid COVID-19

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer laid out Monday the numerous lines of inquiry his party intends to follow this week as a modified version of a House of Commons sitting gets underway.

Andrew Scheer politics Justin Trudeau House of Commons Parliament

Virtual Parliament amid coronavirus pandemic won’t be easy. Here are the biggest challenges.

As early as next week, Canadians will have a front-row seat to something that’s never been done before: virtual meetings of members of this country’s Parliament.

Anthony Rota city Ottawa covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus Canadian Politics

‘A mistake’: Trudeau says House shouldn’t sit on Monday as negotiations continue

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it would “be a mistake” for parliamentarians to sit in the House of Commons on Monday as the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the country.

Justin Trudeau city Ottawa covid-19 House of Commons Coronavirus

Scheer, Trudeau disagree over House of Commons return; Senate suspended

As the parties continue to negotiate on how the House of Commons could resume amid the coronavirus crisis, the Senate will be suspended until June 2 at the earliest.

Justin Trudeau House of Commons Coronavirus Senate

Coronavirus emergency benefits to be extended to seasonal workers: employment minister

Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough says the federal government is working on ways to ensure seasonal workers who do not currently qualify for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit will be able to apply.

Carla Qualtrough covid-19 coronavirus canada House of Commons Coronavirus

Liberals seeking input on possible virtual sittings of the House of Commons

The Liberals are seeking input on how the House of Commons could sit without MPs having to travel to Parliament Hill amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Pablo Rodriguez covid-19 coronavirus news House of Commons Coronavirus

Scott Thompson: Even during a crisis like COVID-19, our leaders must be kept in check

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling back Parliament to pass more legislation that will move aid to the people who need it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Justin Trudeau Scott Thompson House of Commons Government Commentary Canada

United States	Cases: 46 252 513 Deaths: 750 423 Recovered: 0
India	Cases: 34 321 025 Deaths: 459 652 Recovered: 0
Brazil	Cases: 21 835 785 Deaths: 608 235 Recovered: 0
United Kingdom	Cases: 9 215 683 Deaths: 141 607 Recovered: 0
Russia	Cases: 8 494 589 Deaths: 237 619 Recovered: 0