It's a bit bizarre to me, because over the last two months we have enjoyed a hybrid model and an eased pandemic situation. We're not totally out of the pandemic, but we're in an eased situation. We've seen how these provisions can work and how accountability continues, but there are two points that are missed.

One is that MPs want to be here. When you talk to MPs, all of them want to be here. The challenge often, as whip, is telling people to stay away because of their health or circumstances in their lives that mean they shouldn't come.

The second point is that I'm very confused by the Conservatives being so hot on this point, because if it were true that people using hybrid were going to do such a terrible job in representing their constituents, would it not make it easier for them to defeat those people, and isn't that their objective? If they thought that these provisions would be so poorly utilized and that people would do such a terrible job representing their communities, wouldn't they be the biggest advocates of us making the “dumb mistake” of using this, so that we could be easy people to beat? They could replace us and then get rid of the system.

I don't fully understand that position.

If I could, I'll finish on the point that I was on earlier, because I understand that Mr. Brassard took offence to what I was saying. I was simply trying to illustrate that whenever possible.... We've had good opportunities to work together, and there were proud moments in Parliament. For me, Bill C-3 and Bill C-4 were really proud moments when we came together as all parties to find solutions and to set aside aside our differences.

As a House leader, whether on this matter or on any matter, I recognize that we're in a minority government, and good ideas should come forward. When those ideas are good and supported by other parties, of course, I would support them.

Mark Holland

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