OTTAWA – Andrew Scheer, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and of the Official Opposition, issued the following statement on the possibility of virtual sittings of the House of Commons:
“In response to media reports today about the possibility of virtual sittings of the House of Commons, allow me to clarify the Conservative Party’s position.
“We believe that the best place to provide oversight and accountability regarding the government’s handling of the COVID-19 response is in the House of Commons. We have already demonstrated that a small number of MPs, representing the various parties, can follow public health directives while we fulfill our parliamentary duties.
“Virtual meetings are an interesting possibility that can be used in addition to in-person meetings to ensure broader participation of MPs, in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.
“We will continue to ask the Prime Minister and various ministers to provide regular updates to the House, and to be ready to explain their decisions to MPs, in order to get the best possible decisions for Canadians.”
