This week, a reduced number of MPs met in Ottawa to debate the Government’s latest proposal that would allow MPs to participate virtually in regular sittings of the House. MP Jenica Atwin drove from her riding of Fredericton to Ottawa to represent the Green Caucus in what turned into two full days of debate. The motion was adopted at the end of day two, setting the stage for a new hybrid model of meetings in the House of Commons, in which MPs appearing from their ridings via video screens in the chamber will participate equally with MPs present in the House. The first of these meetings was held the very next day, with Elizabeth May being Canada’s first MP to appear in this new hybrid form of parliament. She spoke from her BC riding to present a petition on national pharmacare.
Until June 19th, MPs will table petitions, provide Members’ Statements, and question Ministers four days a week, in this hybrid fashion. They will also continue to participate in regular virtual meetings of various Parliamentary Standing Committees that study the impacts of the pandemic and advise on solutions. After June 19th, the House will break for a summer recess, but will meet twice in July and twice in August to question Ministers and continue debate on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her questions this week, Elizabeth pressed the government to follow up on it’s climate targets under the Paris Agreement and file a new climate target this year, and to consider family reunification a reason to allow family members of Canadians to enter the country while the border is closed to non-essential travel.
On Wednesday Jenica held a press conference to raise awareness about what mental health professionals are calling an echo-pandemic in the anxiety and trauma that people are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic. She participated in a second press conference on Thursday with other opposition MPs calling on the federal government to commit funding for survivors of human trafficking.
Back in BC, Paul Manly spoke about Petition e-2534 on Tuesday during a webinar hosted by Mark Haden, Executive Director for MAPS Canada. On Wednesday he was interviewed about the Green Party’s call for a national inquiry into long term care. Later that day Paul Manly announced the launch of a series of online Community Conversations where he will talk with local experts about issues that are impacting constituents. Paul’s team has also launched a ThoughtExchange as a way to further engage the community leading up to the first Community Conversation next week. Elizabeth will hold a Virtual Community Meeting on June 2nd for constituents.
Elizabeth May appears from her riding on the 100″ screens installed in the Chamber for the new hybrid parliament (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
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Key Moments
Question Period and Member’s Statements
Statements and Press Releases
In Their Own Words
Petitions
Petitions tabled by Green MPs this week
E-petitions open for signature
Good Sunday Morning – January 10
January 10th, 2021
Good Sunday Morning – Jan 3
January 3rd, 2021
Good Sunday Morning – December 13
December 13th, 2020
Good Sunday Morning – December 6
December 6th, 2020
Good Sunday Morning – November 29
November 29th, 2020
Green MPs Elizabeth May and Jenica Atwin recognized in Maclean’s 12th annual Parliamentarians of the Year awards
January 13th, 2021
Green Party condemns steady erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong
January 6th, 2021
Green Party Leader Annamie Paul calls on Prime Minister to Convene Emergency First Ministers Meeting on the Humanitarian Crisis in Long-Term Care
January 5th, 2021
Green Party urges government to move swiftly and implement all Calls to Action recommended in report from TRC
December 17th, 2020
On fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, Green Party says Canada still a long way from meeting its most basic obligations
December 12th, 2020
On the edge of disaster. On the fifth Anniversary of the Paris Agreement, Global Greens call for action not celebration
December 11th, 2020
‘Twas just weeks before Christmas…
December 9th, 2020
Elizabeth asks Environment Minister to close Basel Convention loophole
December 9th, 2020
Elizabeth’s statement on the 50th anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women
December 7th, 2020
Green Caucus letter to Mins. Bains and O’Regan re: Small Modular Reactors
November 9th, 2020
Green Caucus stands in solidarity with pro-democracy protests in Bulgaria
September 14th, 2020
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