NDP JOIN LIBERALS TO MOVE PANDEMIC ELECTION BILL AHEAD

New Democrats joined with the Liberals to cut short initial debate on a bill aimed at ensuring a federal election could be held safely, if need be, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The move ensures that Bill C-19 will be put to a second reading vote Tuesday, allowing it to be referred to a House of Commons committee for greater scrutiny and potential amendments. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-françois Blanchet says the move short-circuits democracy on a bill meant to protect democracy. Conservatives said they’ve had only four hours to debate the bill since it was introduced almost five months ago. But they also ate up the three hours that were supposed to be devoted to C-19 on Monday, using a procedural tactic to debate instead a committee report on the Line 5 pipeline.