(OTTAWA) The one-year extension of the hybrid format of the House of Commons was approved by a majority of MPs on Thursday, just before they begin a summer break from parliamentary work, barring a reversal of situation.
Posted at 2:11 p.m.
The result of the vote in the House of Commons shows 177 MPs in favor of the Liberal motion and 144 opposed.
The New Democrats had indicated that they would give their consent, which ensured enough votes for the passage in spite of the opposition of the conservatives and the bloquistes.
Early Thursday afternoon, the Liberals managed to force the end, the same day, of the debate on the motion in question, in a first vote during which they had the support of the New Democrats.
The office of the House leader of the government, Mark Holland, had then made it known that the vote on the extension itself was to take place in the evening. It finally took place much earlier.
Mr Holland argued that the continuation of the hybrid format – which notably allows elected officials to vote virtually – is necessary since the pandemic is not over.
He argued that the one-year period will allow enough time for a parliamentary committee to consider what should or should not remain of this mode of operation.
Mr. Holland said he had committed to having ministers present in the Chamber to speak during question period.
For the Conservatives, the hybrid formula amounts to reducing accountability.
As for the Bloc, their parliamentary leader Alain Therrien argued that virtual participation in the work of the Commons should be restricted as much as possible. He also said that he thought it wiser to decide on the ideal formula when parliamentary business returns, that is to say in the fall.