Back to parliament

By Martin Shields Member of Parliament - Bow River Riding

As the Alberta economy continues to gradually re-open, I wanted to give you an update on what’s happening in federal politics. 

One of the top agenda items for my Conservative colleagues and I has been getting ourselves back to work in Parliament. Many constituents have communicated with my office to highlight how important they believe this issue to be, and I agree. I believe that if frontline and essential workers have to go to work through this pandemic, then the Member of Parliament they elected should be in the House of Commons working on their behalf. Conservatives have outlined a plan that would allow us to do this safely, and even sit through the summer to make up for lost time. 

Undemocratically, the Liberal government, with NDP support, has declined to hold regular sittings of the House of Commons. Instead, they have forced through a plan that would only hold special committee meetings. The government is still refusing to allow us to debate or properly scrutinize public spending – 

no accountability. It also means no legislation for us to debate; it is government through announcements on the front steps of the Prime Minister’s cottage. We have also been left without opposition days, requests for emergency debates, the ability to debate private members bills, order the publication of government documents, or debate and vote on committee reports. I think we need full parliamentary oversight to monitor the government’s enormous spending and ensure Canadians in need aren’t falling through the cracks. In our democratic system, that’s the Opposition’s job – and right now, we aren’t able to do it properly.

The government is currently spending at levels not seen since the Second World War, and I think it is simply wrong that they do so without oversight and accountability – whether you agree with the spending or not. They will be asking parliament to approve $150 billion in new spending in June alone, but allowing us just a few short hours to debate and consider this massive sum. Most people would spend longer considering what television to buy. I think this is a totally unacceptable affront to our tradition of parliamentary democracy. 

Conservatives will continue to press the government at every opportunity and scrutinize their decisions through the means available to us. It seems that we are the only opposition party willing to do so. While we are unable to defeat the government’s plan as long as they have support from the NDP or Bloc Quebecois, I believe that Canadians need to remember this outrageous disregard for democracy.

My Ottawa office can be reached at martin.shields@parl.gc.ca. My Brooks office can be reached at 403-793-6775 or martin.shields.c1@parl.gc.ca, and my Strathmore office at 403-361-2980 or martin.shields.c1B@parl.gc.ca. Please don’t hesitate to contact me.