By Canadian Press

Push to have Parliament resume stems from Canadians’ frustrations, Tory MP says

Apr 16, 2020 | 10:00 AM

OTTAWA — A Conservative MP says his party’s push for some kind of ongoing sitting of Parliament is born partially out of frustrations being voiced by Canadians over the federal response to COVID-19.

But Dan Albas says his party isn’t trying to hold the legislature hostage with its demands to figure out how that could work.

All four parties must agree to delay the return of Parliament as per the motion that resulted in its extraordinary adjournment in mid-March.

Otherwise, it resumes Monday, which among other things would demand the return of hundreds of staff at a time when physical distancing measures are still mandated.

Albas says negotiations around the return are ongoing but his party maintains some approach is required to provide continued oversight of COVID-19 response efforts.

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MPs are already working on a study that would look at how a virtual Parliament could be carried out but the Conservatives have argued some in-person debate is necessary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2020.

The Canadian Press