Members of Parliament are back to work after observing the Queen’s funeral Monday.
Kenora MP Eric Melillo says he’s in Ottawa even though this is a hybrid parliament, with some members taking part in House of Common’s activities in person and others still on-line.
Melillo says he believes it’s important to be in his seat and is hoping other MP’s follow suite.
“I think the hybrid provisions were obviously necessary for much of the pandemic and they enabled us to continue doing our work but there really is no replacement for the real thing and the amount of work that happens, not just in the chamber but in the lobbies and the hallways of Parliament outside of that, I think that’s a really important aspect that we can’t replace.”
The hybrid parliament will continue until at least next June.
Melillo says he’s looking forward to the new session with a new Conservative leader elected.
Making his question period debut in the House of Commons, Official Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre focused in on the cost of living and the government’s handling of inflation.
Poilievre asked whether the Liberals would cancel planned tax increases, referencing scheduled hikes to the Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance premiums, saying “Canadians just aren’t able to pay.”
