The House of Commons will be continuing to sit in a hybrid fashion for the foreseeable future, after the majority of MPs voted to pass the Liberals' plan to make what started as a pandemic workaround, a permanent feature of how Parliament works.
After more than 12 hours of debate this week, MPs voted—many virtually—171 to 137 in favour of forging ahead with a series of permanent changes to the rules that govern the House, otherwise known as the Standing Orders.on June 8, detailing more than 50 changes to the Standing Orders in order to allow MPs to continue participating remotely in debates and committee meetings.
To accommodate MPs participating remotely when hybrid first became a reality, large screens were placed on either side of the Speaker’s chair in the Chamber to broadcast whomever is speaking, whether in-person or at home, to the House. Those now, are expected to become a permanent feature. "One of the arguments made is that members of Parliament will not show up, that we are going to see Ottawa be empty… but the work of Parliament has continued. Committees have met. The House has met. The work of Parliament has been conducted, and it has been conducted very well," he said.
The Official Opposition attempted to amend the Liberal proposal to scrap or tweak certain rule changes while seeking to have others expire one year after the opening of the next Parliament. While the use of the electronic elements decreased as pandemic restrictions eased, a core argument from those supportive of sticking with hybrid, is having the flexibility to participate virtually has allowed them to be in two places at once: available to their constituents and families at important moments, as well as able to participate in proceedings in Ottawa.
Prior to virtual participation becoming an option, MPs did find ways to have their votes counted if they could not be present through procedural measures like pairing votes. They did not have the ability to participate in debate without being in the Chamber in-person.
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