Conservative MPs vaccinated against COVID-19 are not moved by the prospect that their colleagues who are not vaccinated will be denied the right to vote.
Monday is the election of the Speaker of the House of Commons. However, the election of the one who arbitrates the debates between parliamentarians is done by secret ballot, and in person. And from November 22, only vaccinated people will be able to enter the Chamber.
The Conservative parliamentary leader, Gérard Deltell, like his colleague Alain Rayes, Quebec lieutenant of Erin O’Toole, shrugged the shoulders at the limits imposed on their unvaccinated colleagues.
“It’s their personal choice. The rules are clear and the people who will enter parliament will have to be doubly vaccinated, ”said Mr. Rayes before rushing, Thursday morning, into the building where his family are gathered for a second day in order to prepare for the resumption of parliamentary work.
As of Monday, this building, like all parliamentary buildings in Ottawa, will be closed to the unvaccinated.
“The situation is clear. It is not something new, surprising. […] We play by the rules and those who can attend the House must be vaccinated, ”said Deltell upon arriving at his caucus meeting.
His colleague Yvon Godin is running for the post of Speaker of the House. Thursday morning, he still hoped that there would be a way to accommodate his colleagues so that he could fill up on Conservative votes. He is one of three Conservative MPs running for the job. There is also a NDP candidate and two Liberal MPs – the current president, Anthony Rota, and Quebecer Alexandra Mendes – who are in the race.
“It is important that all members of Parliament can vote on the selection of the Speaker of the House of Commons. Now we will see how it will come about. Until Monday, there are plenty of things that can happen, ”presumed MP Godin.
On Thursday, the Principal Clerk of the House, Jeffrey LeBlanc, still provided that the election of the Speaker be held only in person, “unless the House decides otherwise”.
“There are always some deputies who are not here […] for all kinds of reasons. And I don’t think it could be seen as something that would challenge the legitimacy of the election, ”replied Mr. LeBlanc during a briefing offered to journalists.
The mystery number
At the last count by The Canadian Press, 36 Conservative MPs refused to say whether they were vaccinated or not. The Conservative leadership refuses to give the number of unvaccinated people. Thursday morning, Mr. Deltell said he simply ignored it. Chief Erin O’Toole, for the second day in a row Thursday, fled this question and insisted reporters “because it is not appropriate for me to speak about the personal situation of a Canadian.”
The authorities of the Communes are hardly more transparent. It is impossible to know how many MPs have not yet presented proof of vaccination. However, it was announced that it is the staff of the Sergeant-at-Arms who will have to ensure, from Monday, that no unvaccinated elected official enters the parliamentary buildings.
“The requirements for the presentation of vaccine proof have been communicated to Members of Parliament and it is expected that these requirements will be met by November 22,” offered, in an email, Heather Bradley, from the Office of the Speaker of the House.
Once parliamentary business is well underway – the Speech from the Throne will be read Tuesday afternoon in the Senate – Liberals and NDP are expected to team up to pass a motion that will allow the return of the hybrid form of parliamentary meetings. From that moment on, elected officials, whether vaccinated or not, will be able to participate in debates in the House, as well as in committees, through screens.
The Conservatives and the Bloc are opposed to the return of hybrid meetings. The 32 members of the Bloc Québécois all intend to appear in person when Parliament sits. They are all vaccinated; the New Democrats too. Only one elected Liberal took advantage of a medical exemption.
The current schedule provides for four weeks of debate in the Commons before a holiday for the end of the year holidays from December 18.