Members of Parliament will make history today as a few dozen of them gather in the House of Commons where they'll be joined by the other 300-odd MPs participating via videoconference.
The new hybrid of in-person and virtual proceedings goes into effect after the NDP joined forces Tuesday evening with the Liberals to waive normal sittings for another four months while the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 crisis.
Starting today, all special committee meetings will be a mix of virtual and in-person, with most MPs participating via big screens set up on either side of the Speaker's chair.MPs will also meet twice in July and twice in August to question the government on its response to the crisis. Conservative and Bloc MPs voted against the motion setting up the hybrid special committee format, arguing that it's a poor substitute for the real thing, which gives them more tools with which to hold the government to account. They had wanted the Commons to resume normal operations, albeit with a reduced number of MPs in the chamber.
Tuesday's vote gives MPs and Commons administration until Sept. 21, when the House is to resume, to come up with a solution.
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