When the Parliament resumes on Nov. 22, only those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to enter the House of Commons precinct, the Parliament’s Board of Internal Economy has decided.
Exceptions will be allowed for those with valid medical reasons, but they have to present proof of a recent negative COVID-19 antigen test result.
The restriction applies to members of Parliament, their staff, political research office employees, administration employees, journalists, parliamentary business visitors, contractors, and consultants.
The Board of Internal Economy is the governing body of the House of Commons and decides on administrative matters for the House. The board consists of nine MPs from all parties with official status, including five Liberal MPs, two Conservative MPs, one Bloc Québécois MP, and one NDP MP.
The precinct will remain closed to the public, and those entering need to wear a mask, unless they are at a work station that allows for two-metres of physical distance.
Parliament is set to resume on Nov. 22, just over two months following the Sept. 20 election that gave the Liberals a second consecutive minority government.
