The Member of Parliament for Peace River-Westlock says there needs to be more in-person sittings in the House of Commons.
Arnold Viersen says the conservatives wanted three in-person sitting a week with around 30 MP’s.
Instead a liberal motion calling for one sitting and two virtual sessions per-week was passed.
Parliament has been meeting less frequently, and with a limited number of MP’s due to the coronavirus.
“We think that Parliament is the pinnacle of democracy in Canada,” says Viersen. “Particularly in trying times such as this, it is important we hear all the ideas being put forward.”
Viersen says the CPC was able to change the government’s mind but making suggestions on emergency relief for Canadians due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The most notable is probably going from 10 percent to 75 percent for wage subsidies,” explains Viersen, talking about the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit.
Viersen tells the Trending 55 Newsroom that he feels debates are much more productive in-person, as opposed to online.
“The microphone would be managed by a clerk, so it would be very hard to jump in and make a point.”
He also explains that debates have been happening more on twitter and through the media than in the House of Commons.
“I am not sure that is the best place to have a debate,” explains Viersen. “I know in some of the twitter and facebook commentary that I have participated in, things can get off track real easily, whereas in person, it tends to be a little more civil.”
– Kenny Trenton, Trending 55 Newsroom
