Statement by MP Zimmer Regarding the Suspension of House of Commons Regular Sittings Until the Fall

FORT ST. JOHN – Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies, issued the following statement regarding the suspension of House of Commons regular sittings until September 21:

“It is clear that the Liberals want a free pass with zero accountability. We as a democratic country should have a functional Parliament. Instead the Liberals, with the help of the NDP, not only suspended regular House of Commons sittings until the fall, but also shut down debate on this issue yesterday.

“Conservatives have long been calling for the full return of Parliament in a safe and responsible way and voted against this motion just like we did in April when the suspension of regular sittings was first extended. I, like with many Canadians, believe strongly that we must have a return to normal Parliamentary business and do our jobs in the House while still respecting public health guidelines.

“With the passing of this motion, the Liberal government is refusing to allow us the opportunity to have Opposition Days, requests for Emergency Debates, debate Private Members Bills, order the publication of government documents, or debate and vote on committee reports.

“For weeks we, as Conservative Members of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, have been trying to ask questions on behalf of the Wet’suwet’en people regarding the Liberals’ decision to sign an MOU during a pandemic. We have been shut down every time because it isn’t ‘COVID-related’, even though it is. This is shameful and just one example of how Parliament isn’t working as it’s supposed to.

“The House of Commons has had just 31 sitting days in 2020. Parliament right now is a sham, and no Prime Minister, it’s not working.”