Because the hybrid parliament debate will resume in the New Year, CTV has a collection of quotes from MPs both here and in comparable Parliaments abroad about the format, and I find some of the commentary to be lacking. A few notes:

1. Lots of talk about being able to participate while stick, while ignoring that this is setting up an extremely unhealthy system of presenteeism. MPs should be allowed to take sick days or leave if they require treatment for something like cancer, and not be made to feel guilty about it.
2. There was some talk about party whips setting up rules for when MPs can appear virtually, but there seemed to be a lot of “when they feel like it” happening, particularly since Niki Ashton only appeared in Ottawa for two days the whole fall sitting, which should be absolutely unacceptable.
3. Our committees are in crisis because of how they have been limited by hybrid sittings and the lack of interpretation staff. Only two government bills that were not budget-related got passed in the fall. Two. Some bills were in committee the entire thirteen sitting weeks that they sat, and are still not out of committee. Additionally, there are some committee chairs who are only appearing virtually (while not sick or infirm), which should not be allowed because it’s impossible to moderate a room you’re not in.
4. The piece did quote the interim head of the interpretation service, but absolutely none of the MPs raised a single concern for the injuries that they are telling the interpreters to suffer so that they can appear remotely when they feel like it. The continued lack of basic awareness or concern about this remains unconscionable, and it’s absolutely shameful that MPs can’t arse themselves to care.
5. Only the Bloc raised the concerns that ministers aren’t accessible because they are moving increasingly remotely, and allowing virtual voting is even worse for that. It used to be the time when MPs could get a chance to catch a minister’s attention about a matter that requires their attention, because they were all in the Chamber at the same time. Now most ministers run out of the Chamber when votes begin and vote on their phones from their cars, and they are no longer accessible, and that is a very big problem. Similarly, the more MPs and ministers are remote, the less they are able to be button-holed by journalists, making them even less accountable than they already are (especially because the architecture of the West Block makes it too easy for them to avoid media, even when they are there).

I don’t care how convenient MPs find hybrid sittings or remote voting, it’s degrading our institutions and it needs to come to an end immediately.

Ukraine Dispatch, Day 302:

I could find no stories on the situation on the ground in Ukraine because absolutely all of the coverage was about President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s trip to Washington DC. During Zelenskyy’s visit with President Joe Biden at the White House, we got confirmation that the US will be sending Patriot anti-missile systems to Ukraine. Zelenskyy then headed to the Capitol, where he met with Nancy Pelosi (who enthused that this was just like when her father met with Winston Churchill in Congress 81 year ago), before Zelenskyy addressed a joint session of Congress. His message—that aid for Ukraine isn’t charity, but an investment in democracy and security, at a time when a number of US representatives are publicly doubting the “blank cheque” that has been given to Ukraine.

If you're upset by Zelensky in his olive drab fatigues today, wait till you see Winston Churchill wearing his air raid outfit to the White House. pic.twitter.com/SE9BfeFlmj

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) December 22, 2022

Good reads:

• As part of one of his year-enders, Justin Trudeau has dismissed the notion of windfall taxes on grocery and energy companies, noting it is a simplistic solution.
• Steven Guilbeault is proposing to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles so that by 2035, every vehicle sold in the country will need to be electric.
• Marco Mendicino says he’s hoping to introduce an Indigenous policing bill in the spring, but the regional chief for Quebec notes that it’s a tight timeline.
• The CMHC says that the regulations for the ban on foreign homebuyers is now in place, and goes into effect on January 1st.
• Here is a look at why the $7 billion for 16 F-35s isn’t about the planes, but also the infrastructure upgrades necessary to accommodate those fighters.
• Statistics Canada says that our population is growing at its fastest rate since 1956, with an influx of immigrants and non-permanent residents (such as Ukrainians).
• The largest public sector union is filing a labour board challenge of the federal government’s hybrid work plan.
• Here is a bit more clarity around just what the allegations were around the supposed interference by China during the 2019 federal election.
• Here is a look at a few of the structural problems with our healthcare systems that a cash infusion won’t solve.
• The alleged RCMP spy has been granted bail (three years later—which is very, very interesting considering the potential threat he poses to national security).
• Pierre Poilievre continues to defend his (immoral, wrong-headed) notion that safe supply and harm reduction merely “perpetuates addiction.”
• Kevin Carmichael looks at the inflation numbers and takes the pulse of what this could mean for the Bank of Canada’s next rate decision in January.
• Heather Scoffield also delves into the inflation data and the hopes for the best case scenario versus what is likely to happen.
• Susan Delacourt talks to Seamus O’Regan about his friendship with Jim Carr, and how he relied on Carr’s advice in his Cabinet roles.

Odds and ends:

Need a copy of #UnbrokenMachine? Find it now for 25% off! https://t.co/2x5tOpO5ne

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) November 13, 2022

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