O'Toole still won't say if all Conservative MPs are vaccinated, insists those attending Commons will be
CBC
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is refusing to say how many of his MPs have been vaccinated against COVID-19 but is promising that all who do attend the House of Commons in person will be fully vaccinated.
"I put forward a plan and the caucus agreed to respect and abide by new rules which require parliamentarians attending the House of Commons ... to be vaccinated," O'Toole said earlier today after meeting with caucus members.
Earlier this month, members of the Board of Internal Economy, the House of Commons' governing body, announced that most MPs — and anyone else entering the House of Commons — will have to be fully vaccinated when the House returns Nov. 22.
The Conservative leader has objected to the process used to establish that new rule, saying the question should be settled by all 338 elected MPs rather than a group of "seven MPs meeting in secret."
O'Toole doubled down on that position today, saying that "only the House of Commons itself can determine its composition and its conduct" and that his party would call for a vote on the new rules as soon as possible.
His party is likely to lose that vote. All of the other parties represented in the House of Commons say they support the new rule.
O'Toole was asked several times by journalists today if all Conservative MPs have been vaccinated. He refused to answer, saying only that all Conservative MPs attending the House of Commons will be vaccinated.
O'Toole said that he's fully vaccinated and called on everyone who has not yet received both shots to be vaccinated as soon as possible.
But he also accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of "politicizing" vaccination by pushing for mandatory vaccine rules.
"Justin Trudeau should, frankly, be ashamed of himself for politicizing vaccines and dividing Canadians at a time [when] we need to come together," he said.
The Conservative leader also dodged questions about whether Conservative MPs who do not attend the House in person because they are unvaccinated would instead participate in debates virtually.
"I am not in favour of a virtual Parliament. Conservatives want to see a return of Parliament and its committees to normal," O'Toole said, adding that Trudeau has used the virtual Parliament as a tool to avoid scandal.
"We will not allow Mr. Trudeau to hide behind a lack of accountability in the House of Commons and our team, both the Commons and Senate, will respect the rules," he said.
MPs must soon decide whether to continue with the hybrid Parliament model, which sees some MPs participating virtually while others attend in person.
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