Cypress Hills-Grasslands MP and other MP's return to Ottawa

Members of Parliament (MP) are going back to the office as the House of Commons reopens.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Canada back in 2019, the House of Commons has operated in a limited and reduced capacity, with many members 'working from home' to help limit exposure to the virus.

The change back to a full house seems to have been a process that has been sped up to allow them to all attend a service in Ottawa on September 20 for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Reason regardless, Cypress Hills-Grasslands MP, Jeremy Patzer, is looking forward to returning to Ottawa for in-person sessions.

"There's a lot of important issues that are facing Canadians, namely inflation and cost of living," said Patzer. "We're looking forward to getting back to address those issues."

As far as COVID-19 is concerned, the governing bodies that be have decided the risks are up to the individuals themselves to manage while in-house. This policy change after years of strict rules and regulations preventing large gatherings, both private and professional, has allowed the house to reconvene with all of its members.

"Every Member of Parliament is responsible for their own health and everybody is going to do the best they can to make sure they are healthy and strong and ready to go," said Patzer. "I see no reason why we shouldn't all be there in person."

The major benefit of being in person is being able to meet face to face with the various persons that govern. While teams meetings and emails do make remote work more doable, they still don't convey the same reality as in-person work.

"It's easier to skirt accountability when you're sitting in front of a computer screen," claimed Patzer. "There's something to be said about facing somebody, whether it's in committee or in question, period, to do that face to face, to do it in person."

Patzer also touched on the ability to make contact with a person casually in person, without having to schedule for it.

"You can have those side conversations," said Patzer. "I find a lot of the time those are some of the most effective ways to address an issue or get something done is when you can have that conversation in the hallway."

The House of Commons resumed the fall session yesterday and will 55 days in total before Christmas break.