Virtual sittings have MPs doing things not allowed in House of Commons - Action News
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Politics

Virtual sittings have MPs doing things not allowed in House of Commons

A stuffed deer head made a cameo appearance Tuesday during a virtual gathering of members of Parliament.

Speaker Rota has expressed concern about backgrounds, saying they should be as 'neutral as possible'

Blaine Calkins, Conservative MP for the Alberta riding of Red DeerLacombe. He is shown here participating in a virtual session of the House of Commons criticizing the Liberal government's new gun control measures while a trophy head of a deer hangs on the wall behind him. He also has a sign in English and French that says: "Not dumb area. Do not dumb here!" (CBC)

A stuffed deer head made a cameo appearance Tuesday during a virtual gathering of Members of Parliament.

The deer head, replete with antlers, was mounted on the wall behind Conservative MP Blaine Calkins as he questioned the government on what he called its "forced confiscation of law-abiding firearms owners' property" referring to the recently announced ban on military-style assault weapons.

Were MPs actually sitting in the House of Commons, they'd be banned from using any props or visual displays to illustrate or emphasize their remarks.

Commons Speaker Anthony Rota has expressed concern about MPs using the virtual setting to break the rules of decorum that normally apply.

"One issue that I think must be addressed has to be with the visual background in front of which members appear," Rota told the procedure and House affairs committee Monday.

"Based on established practice, these backgrounds should be as neutral as possible, and consistent with the non-partisan environment of the chamber or committee."

Green Party MP Paul Manly (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) speaks in front of a green screen during a virtual Parliament session over Zoom on April 28, 2020. (Parliament of Canada/Zoom)

Rota did not give any example of backdrops that he believes have strayed from neutrality.

However, he may have had in mind the screen that British Columbia MP Paul Manly used as a backdrop during a virtual sitting last week.

It was green in colour and Manly is, of course, a Green party MP. Or he might have been thinking of the distracting painting of colourful turbans that served as a backdrop for Industry Minister Navdeep Bains last week.

Liberal MP and Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains takes part in a virtual Parliament session on April 28, 2020, in front of a painting of turban-wearing people gathered tightly together. (Parliament of Canada/Zoom)

In a letter to the chair of the House affairs committee, Rota elaborated on his view that despite the "exceptional circumstances" created by the pandemic, he believes "it is still necessary to maintain the authority and dignity of Parliament and its proceedings as much as possible."

"The House has long-established rules for decorum that prohibit the use of displays, props and exhibits. The House also regulates how it is broadcast, to the point of specifying what shot angles to use when it is to be video recorded.

"Not only does this preserve the dignity of Parliament and its proceedings, but it also better ensures that what is debated and decided upon in the House remains more important than what is seen."

Laura Collins, NDP MP for Victoria, participates in a virtual session of the House of Commons. The MP, who says she decided to jump from municipal politics into federal politics because she wanted to make an impact on climate change policy, is shown here sitting in front of a painting of a tree. (CBC)

Rota asked the committee to issue guidelines on ensuring decorum during virtual proceedings, which he could use when presiding over the twice-weekly virtual sittings of a modified House of Commons.

Until then, he said he'll continue to advise MPs to "refrain from including any background that is not consistent with the norms and standards followed within the parliamentary precinct."

Rota has also chided MPs for not wearing business attire when participating in virtual proceedings.

Rachael Harder, a Conservative MP who represents the riding of Lethbridge, appears in a virtual sitting of the House of Commons May 5, 2020. On the shelf behind her a euphonium, a three-valved horn, can be seen next to a sand-glass timer and above a picture of a swan. (CBC)

However, Rota did experience some pushback Tuesday to the manner in which he's attempting to preserve decorum.

After Conservative MP Mel Arnold interrupted Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan's response to one of his questions, Rota reminded MPs they are not to interrupt when another person is speaking.

He mused that he may start muting MPs who interrupt "if it's necessary."

During a normal sitting of the House of Commons, only the microphone of the person speakingis turned on.

Other MPs frequently heckle but their remarks are usually hard to make out. The Speaker will stop proceedings and call for order if the noise level is too high for the person speaking to be heard.

Michelle Rempel Garner, a Conservative MP representing the Alberta riding of Calgary Nose Hill, appears in a virtual sitting of the House of Commons this week. Rempel sits in front of a fireplace with a Canadian flag and a horseshoe positioned on the mantel. (CBC)

The virtual proceedings have eliminated the heckling. But Rota's attempt to also prevent interruptions drew an objection Tuesday from Calgary Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner.

She noted that the virtual sittings during the COVID-19 pandemic are structured like committee meetings, which typically allow MPs more freedom to interrupt to cut off lengthy answers or to castigate a witness for not answering their questions.
Given that, Rempel Garner said Rota's threat to mute MPs who interrupt "seems a little dictatorial."

Rota denied having threatened to mute MPs. Rempel Garner retorted that he "actually did," before Rota cut her off and said he'd look into the matter.

The backgrounds of MPs Zoom calls piques interests

4 years ago
Duration 0:55
Speaker Rota has expressed concern about the backgrounds in MP's Zoom appearances in virtual Parliament, saying they should be as 'neutral as possible'