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Parties still can’t agree on how best to resume Parliament

Apr 20, 2020 | 8:09 AM

OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he has not changed his position on a tentative deal struck with the Liberals and Bloc Quebecois about the conditions under which the House of Commons should resume sitting.

The three parties reached an agreement that would see a reduced number of parliamentarians gather once per week, as well as two virtual committees of the whole per week.

But Conservatives have insisted on more in-person sittings.

Without a consensus by late Monday morning, the House of Commons is set to resume business as usual by default.

Singh says he believes one in-person sitting each week will give parliamentarians enough time to debate and pass emergency legislation to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

The NDP have three MPs in Ottawa, including Singh, who say they are prepared to stay in the capital as long as necessary to reach a deal with the other parties.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 20, 2020.

The Canadian Press