By Canadian Press

Prepare for remote voting in Commons this fall: committee

Jul 21, 2020 | 8:04 AM

OTTAWA — The parliamentary committee that oversees the way the House of Commons works says the chamber should spend the summer getting ready for MPs to participate and vote from outside Ottawa.

The group says COVID-19 will likely make it too dangerous for MPs to gather in large numbers when the Commons is due to resume its regular business in September, especially for those who need to travel long distances.

So the committee wants to take the video-conferencing system MPs have been using for meetings for the last several months and add a secure voting system so more normal business can go on.

The committee also says every MP and anyone else participating must be equipped with high-quality audio gear so they can be heard properly.

And the Commons will need to invest in its interpretation service because the people who do that work have been burning out trying to translate fast-talkers with poor internet connections.

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The Conservatives dissent from the committee’s recommendations, saying it’s better for a limited number of MPs to gather in Ottawa in person and avoid travelling while COVID-19 remains a worry.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2020.

The Canadian Press