Photo credit Louis Henault/Dreamstrime

By Curtis Galbraith

COVID-19

Warkentin says not everyone will be there when Parliament is recalled this week

Mar 23, 2020 | 5:30 AM

Parliament is expected to be recalled this week to vote on COVID-19 measures.

Grande Prairie-Mackenize MP Chris Warkentin says not everyone will have to be there.

“We are looking to see if there’s a way that we could limit it to those who are still in Ottawa and those who could be able to be in Ottawa simply by driving. Of course, we need to make sure that there are enough members to allow for quorum and enough members from every party.”

He expects the session to last for less than a day.

“Simply to move on some of these provisions that the government has announced. We will be looking for creative ways to reduce the necessity for commercial travel for those people that wouldn’t necessarily be essential to be there for that particular session.”

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

Parliament had been suspended on March 13, with a return date set for April 20, because of the pandemic.

Warkentin is encouraging people to follow guidelines around washing hands and limiting contact with other people.

On another topic, Warkentin says the Conservative leadership races continues, although all candidates have suspended public engagements.

“They continue to engage on social media and through other means. The leadership race continues. I know that the organization that manages the leadership race is monitoring the situation.”

Warkentin says it is up to organizers to determine if deadline changes or a suspension is needed.

Grande Prairie-raised businessman Rick Peterson dropped out of the race on Friday. He had asked that the deadlines to collect nomination signatures and to pay fees be extended because of the pandemic, something that was denied by the party’s Leadership Election organizing committee. In a letter on his Facebook page, Peterson says this “flies in the face of common sense, decency, and Conservative values.”