By Canadian Press

MPs should return to House of Commons to scrutinize COVID-19 measures: Scheer

Apr 15, 2020 | 9:23 AM

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has repeated his call to see MPs return to the House of Commons to question and scrutinize the Liberal government’s COVID-19 measures.  

The House of Commons is currently suspended until April 20 and without a deal among the parties to extend this suspension or to come up with an alternative, such as virtual sittings, Parliament will resume on Monday.

Scheer says the government has many things to answer for, including why other countries are farther ahead of Canada in testing and contact tracing of COVID-19 as well as why Canada is still weeks away from a shipment of ventilators that Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland promised almost over a month ago.

He says Parliament must resume so that Opposition parties can pose these questions and hold government accountable.

Changes were made to the Liberals’ wage subsidy bill in a special sitting of Parliament over the weekend thanks to suggestions by Opposition parties, which Scheer says proves the value of having MPs working in Ottawa on behalf of Canadians.

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He said he is not against the idea of virtual sittings as a way to add additional opportunities for MPs to take part who cannot travel to Ottawa, but he says it is possible for a reduced number of MPs to sit in the House of Commons while respecting public health guidelines.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2020.

The Canadian Press