Accountability Matters

“Parliament is more than procedure – it is the custodian of the nation’s freedom.” Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker, Canada’s 13th Prime Minister.

The House of Commons will resume normal sittings on April 20th unless an agreement is reached between all parties to modify the sitting calendar.

Conservatives have been clear that such an agreement must include regular opportunities for Members of Parliament to question the Prime Minister and his cabinet ministers in the House of Commons on all aspects of the government’s response to COVID-19.  It must also include regular opportunities for all Members of Parliament to question those ministers in the House of Commons.

As we have demonstrated during the last two sittings of Parliament, Members of Parliament can meet in a responsible manner, while respecting public health advice. Continued in-person sittings have allowed Opposition parties to debate, discuss, question and ultimately improve the government’s COVID-19 legislation.  They are an essential part of our democratic process and ensure better results for Canadians.

Canadians’ lives and livelihoods depend on how the government responds to this crisis. In order to ensure that Canadians get the real help they need, there must be oversight and accountability. Now, more than ever, Parliament is an essential service.

No government should use a health crisis to try to shut down democracy or take away hard-won rights or freedoms. The question shouldn’t be why Opposition MPs want to keep sitting. It’s why the Prime Minister doesn’t want to stand in the House and answer questions? Conservatives have proposed a reasonable workplan that would keep Parliament open so that we can improve government programs and policies and get better results for Canadians.

A small business on the verge of bankruptcy can’t wait weeks for the government’s wage subsidy. A seasonal worker worried about how they are going to put food on the table can’t wait weeks to find out if they qualify for the Emergency Response Benefit. A student who has lost their summer job and Is unable to make their rent payment can’t wait weeks for a government support program.

The past five weeks have only reinforced the vital role of Parliament. We have clearly seen how accountability and oversight gets better results for Canadians. A Team Canada approach doesn’t mean that you tell over half the players to sit on the bench. It’s about getting Canadians through the crisis and making sure that we have a plan to get our economy back on track when the time comes.

Conservatives hope all parties will agree that we must continue to sit, hold this government to account, improve programs and policies, and get Canadians through this pandemic as quickly as possible.