Members of Parliament from northern B.C. may be among those with the farthest to travel but they remain largely in support of gathering in-person over attending meetings and debates in Ottawa via video conferencing technology.
Prince George-Cariboo Conservative MP Todd Doherty said he has mixed emotions over so-called "hybrid parliaments" that gave MPs the option of attending in-person or virtually.
Due to ongoing troubles with his knee, Doherty continues to get around on crutches and admitted to relying on the format to take in meetings and debates, but accused the governing Liberals of taking advantage of the situation.
"They've used it to shut down debate, which they did this week again," Doherty said. "They claimed technical difficulties, they adjourned the House and then when everybody had gone home and shut off their computers, a minister crept into the House and did closure on a Bill.
"It's those kind of tricks and dilatory motions and acts that they're doing that are just really making it hard for us to trust that they've got the best intentions."
Rules allowing MPs to appear virtually in the House of Commons - at first entirely and then in a hybrid format - were introduced near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, after Parliament adjourned for a time when public health officials were urging people to work from home.
Members of Parliament cast their first virtual vote, using video-conference technology, in September 2020 and then were able to do so through an app the following spring.
Last week, MPs stuck to party lines when a Liberal motion was passed to extend the hybrid sittings in the House of Commons until June 2023. New Democrats, Greens and the House's lone Independent joined Liberals in support while Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois opposed.
Taylor Bachrach, the NDP MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, said making the format permanent is worth considering.
"I totally agree that there are many benefits of being in Parliament in person. There is so much relationship-building and informal meetings that take place that are really invaluable," Bachrach said from Ottawa.
"But my hope is that we can strike a balance that both maintains the benefits of in-person Parliament and provides flexibility for young parents, for people who have accessibility challenges and for situations where you might have to be on the other side of the country at a certain time.
"It's a hot debate and at this point the virtual Parliament is going to continue until June 2023. The long-term conversation is one we're yet to have."
Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies Conservative MP Bob Zimmer said he's does not support hybrid parliaments in "any way."
"When you have a chance to talk to someone person to person, it's a different conversation and there is way more that can be accomplished," Zimmer said. "It's just something I've seen over the last 11 years (of being an MP) and even before."
- with files from The Canadian Press
