An all-party committee is recommending the House of Commons hold additional virtual sittings to conduct all its regular business -- including voting -- during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The recommendation is included in a report released today by the procedure and House affairs committee, which has been studying how to move toward a fully virtual Parliament.
The Commons has been adjourned since mid-March, except for several single-day special sittings to pass emergency aid legislation. However, since late last month MPs have been meeting by videoconference twice a week and in person once a week in modified Commons proceedings devoted strictly to the COVID-19 crisis.
Given the success of those online proceedings, the committee report says the Commons should move toward additional virtual sittings for all its regular business and set up a secure electronic voting system as soon as possible. The Conservatives have issued a dissenting report, arguing that in-person gatherings of MPs are vital to the proper functioning of democracy.
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