NDP MP Randall Garrison is pushing for the House of Commons to update is dress code, in particular around the gendered rules that men need to wear a jacket and tie in the Chamber in order to speak and vote. Part of Garrison’s stated motivation is to make it easier for future trans and non-binary MPs, even though accommodations are already routinely made, such as allowing Indigenous MPs to wear beaded necklaces or other symbols in place of a tie. I don’t see why it would be any different to accommodate a trans or non-binary MP in a similar manner without any fuss – a mere notice to the Speaker would suffice.

On the one hand, there is a certain amount of archaic assumption in the “contemporary business attire” around jackets and ties for men, and only men – there is no dress code for women in the Chamber (and these rules apply to those of us who sit in the Press Gallery in the Chamber, incidentally). Business attire in the current context is starting to slide down the scale – particularly in this era of work-from-home – so I’m leery of loosening the restrictions too much, particularly as it is not beyond the realm of possibility that you would have a bunch of MPs in track suits, yoga or sweat pants, hoodies, and mom jeans (and I have seen male MPs in mom jeans with jacket and tie in the Chamber, which was not a pleasant sight). Printed t-shirts are also a very real concern, because we will immediately slip into them being used as props, particularly during Members’ Statements, and we do not want that to happen. On the same token, I wouldn’t have minded imposing a few more rules for women in the Chamber, such as mandating jackets as part of “business attire,” because sometimes the definitions of what constitutes “business attire” for some female MPs has been particularly…challenging. (Flashback to the old Megan Leslie Outfit Watch on my former blog).

I get that ties suck. I really do. I used to really hate them, but I’ve somewhat reluctantly grown to accept them and now I have no issue with it. And once we’re into late May and early June and the humidity starts to climb, wearing suits is not fun (and whereas I have threatened to show up to the Gallery in shorts and sandals – but with jacket and tie – one reporter has actually done so and was my hero for the day). But at the same time, I think there should be some kinds of standards, for both men and women, because frankly there can be a demonstrated lack of both maturity and good taste among MPs and there need to be some guidelines. Can they be loosened a little? Sure, that should be okay, and maybe we won’t require a tie at all times – within reason. It does merit a discussion in any case.

Good reads:

• Treasury Board President Mona Fortier says that 95.3 percent of federal civil servants have attested to being fully vaccinated.
• François-Philippe Champagne is in Washington to talk supply chains and developing rare-earth element mining in Canada.
• Military police and civilian authorities are investigating dozens of complaints of racism within the Canadian Army.
• CSIS considers COVID to be the most disruptive event for national security agencies since 9/11, with domestic extremists using conspiracy theories for recruitment.
• CSIS says they will make a “significant contribution” to understanding threats posed by climate change and its national security implications.
• The Bank of Canada says they will closely monitor how climate risks are impacting consumer prices and how that may drive inflation.
• The Supreme Court of Canada heard a case involving sexual consent where it comes to condom use, and how not wearing one viciated that consent.
• Elements of the Conservative base, including gun rights groups, anti-abortion groups, and right-wing thinktanks are all expressing dismay in Erin O’Toole.
• Conservatives have written to the Privacy Commissioner, asking him to investigate the data breach at Citizenship and Immigration regarding Afghan refugees.
• Conservative MP Dean Allison – who claims a “medical exemption” from vaccines – is hosting anti-lockdown voices and vaccine sceptics on his weekly TV show.
• Doug Ford says he won’t force hospital workers to be fully vaccinated, though hospitals can set their own policies (and most will probably do so).
• Robert Tay-Burroughs examines the state of Indigenous relations in New Brunswick, where the provincial government forbade land acknowledgements.
• Heather Scoffield tallies the promises made at COP26, and the monumental impact that they will have on all aspects of the Canadian economy.
• Susan Delacourt talks to Mélanie Joly about her first official call as foreign minister, with her counterpart in the US.
• Paul Wells digs into Justin Trudeau’s particular loner instincts, which are manifesting in his Cabinet choices and delay in summoning Parliament.
• Colby Cosh considers Maine’s referendum loss regarding importing electricity from Québec, and the parochialism and NIMBYism that fuelled it.

Odds and ends:

For the CBA’s National Magazine, I preview next week’s Supreme Court of Canada hearing about how long is too long for an administrative discipline decision.

Want more Routine Proceedings? Become a patron and get exclusive new content.