Conservative motion won’t result in another confidence vote: House Leader
Posted October 23, 2020 6:42 am.
OTTAWA – The Liberals say there is no way they can produce all the documents demanded within the 15-day timeline of a Conservative motion calling for a sweeping probe into the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, a spokesperson for government House leader Pablo Rodriguez says the government will not consider the vote to be a confidence matter, meaning its acceptance won’t pose a threat of bringing down the government.
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole insists the point of the health committee motion is to get the answers that will improve upon Canada’s response to the pandemic.
He also made it clear the motion is intended to bolster the Conservative contention that the government has mishandled the pandemic by, among other things, its failure to quickly approve rapid tests, closure of the early pandemic warning system and funneling contracts to Liberal friends.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu contends the motion is overly broad and would bog down public servants when they should be focused on helping Canadians through the second wave of COVID-19, saying it is “intentionally meant to overwhelm the department.”
The Conservative motion will be put to a vote Monday and has the support of both the Bloc Quebecois and NDP.
