The parliamentary debates had just started again on Wednesday that insults and reproaches were already flowing from all sides in the Commons. And this, despite the “collaboration” promised and hoped for by each of the parties. All against the backdrop of vaccine tensions as the conservatives’ rivals, and even one of their own colleagues, said they were uncomfortable that some were not being vaccinated.
In the aftermath of the presentation of the Speech from the Throne, the opposition parties took turns criticizing the government of Justin Trudeau. “This tired Liberal government,” quipped Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, addressing his caucus in the morning and criticizing the Prime Minister for not tackling inflation in the country.
The Bloc leader, Yves-François Blanchet, once again called on the Trudeau government to increase federal transfers to healthy provinces. The day before, he called it a “government that is already worn out”.
On the New Democratic Party side, Jagmeet Singh accused the Liberals of not doing enough for the climate. And Justin Trudeau to have been re-elected at the head of a “government that has run out of steam,” he said on Tuesday.
Gathered for a first question period since June – and the first face-to-face for more than 18 months – the federal deputies were fiery on Wednesday. Both on the side of the opposition parties and on the side of the government.
Yet Liberal House leader Mark Holland has been saying since Monday that the minority government wants to “cooperate” with the opposition parties. Despite this, Justin Trudeau continued to attack the Conservatives. The Prime Minister criticized them for their “ideology” of “hiding their heads in the sand” by opposing the Liberals’ national daycare plan and “throwing mud” with their questions in the Commons.
Mr. Holland also deplored that, from the first hours of the parliamentary resumption, the Conservatives raised three questions which they believed violated their parliamentary privileges (in particular on the compulsory vaccination of deputies to enter parliament) and thus monopolized two hours and a half debate Tuesday evening. “It was too much last night,” said Holland. And I hope this is not a situation that will continue, because it is very important for us to work [pour nous occuper des] priorities of Canadians. “
The Bloc Québécois has raised a fourth question of parliamentary privilege, to demand, as the Liberals are asking, that the medical exemptions brandished by an unknown number of Conservatives be cross-checked in order to certify their legitimacy.
Vaccine concerns
The immunization status of elected Conservatives continued to generate much debate in Parliament, and not just among their political rivals.
Senator Claude Carignan himself was uncomfortable when he arrived at his weekly caucus meeting that some of his colleagues were not adequately vaccinated. “I have my mask. I will keep my distance, ”he confessed. “Me, I think you have to be vaccinated. It’s important, ”he said a few minutes earlier.
The Conservative Party refuses to specify how many of its elected officials are not vaccinated and instead hold a medical exemption. Last week, Beauceron MP Richard Lehoux revealed that he had been diagnosed with COVID-19 just 48 hours after spending two days in caucus with his colleagues.
Mr. Blanchet reported having “given instructions” to his deputies and his team “to be more careful, given the uncertainty that exists” as to the vaccination status of certain elected officials. Green Party MP Elizabeth May said on Tuesday that she did not feel safe in the opposition lobby in the Commons for the same reason. The New Democrat leader said he was worried about the employees who work on Parliament Hill.
Federal MPs have been debating since Wednesday afternoon a government motion that would extend the functioning of the House in hybrid mode and which would mandate the officers of Parliament to verify the legitimacy of the medical exemptions of certain elected officials to the vaccine against COVID-19.
Niagara Region MP Dean Allison – the only one to publicly admit to having a medical exemption – is opposed to the idea. “All medical information should be kept confidential,” he said, adding that he undergoes a screening test every Monday and Wednesday to be able to enter parliament.
Mr. Allison declined to elaborate on the medical condition that prevents him from getting the vaccine. “It’s private,” he retorted.
Since the government’s motion enjoys the support of the New Democratic Party, its adoption seems assured.