MPs hold historic vote using app
MPs don't think change should be permanent
OTTAWA • For the first time in its history, the House of Commons conducted an electronic vote Monday, with a new app allowing MPs to vote from anywhere in the country — but MPs from all parties say this should only be a temporary change.
The new app used for two recorded votes on Monday, allows MPs to vote with their smartphones, dramatically cutting down the time it takes for a vote in the House of Commons.
Parliament has been meeting in a hybrid format, with a combination of MPs inside the House of Commons chamber and through Zoom, since last fall due to public health restrictions driven by the pandemic.
Under that system for votes, MPs had to announce their intentions one at a time either in person or through Zoom, a process when combined with video issues and technical problems frequently meant every vote could take up to an hour. Before the pandemic, MPs voted by standing when their name was called, a process that would take just 15 minutes.
The new voting app returned the House of Commons to that 15-minute time frame for each vote, with the handful of MPs in the chamber voting in the traditional method and most MPs voting through the app from their homes or offices.
MPs have to log into the app before the voting begins and the app takes their photo while the cast their vote to check their identity. The House of Commons staff developed the app inhouse, but used a team from the Communications Security Establishment to test it and ensure it was secure.
Conservative Whip Blake Richards said he welcomes the work done by the House staff on the app, but he expects Parliament to return to in-person sitting with all MPs in the chamber as soon as it is safe.
“We still believe that voting in the House of Commons is one of the most important functions of an MP. Whether we're voting on a budget, on a piece of legislation or a declaration that a country is committing genocide, MPs should be present, visible and accountable to Canadians for their votes,” he said. “All parties have agreed that this app is temporary and we will go back to the traditional way of voting as things open up and Canadians return to their normal lives.”
The system was tested in advance, but Monday's votes were the first time it was used for real votes. In the first vote, a Bloc Québécois opposition motion calling for a rise in Old Age Security payments, three MPs reported small problems in the app and cast their votes through Zoom instead. The second vote, on a government bill, had one problem with a Conservative MP, who was unable to cast her vote.
The Bloc motion passed with only the Liberals opposed, but it is not binding on the government.
In pre-pandemic times, MPs from western provinces or from rural or remote communities returning home on the weekend often faced multiple flights and a day of travel. They often could be required to turn around and head back shortly after arriving home to Ottawa for sittings on Monday.
In a report released last month, the parliamentary budget officer estimated the hybrid Parliament was saving the government $6.2 million because so much travel was being eliminated. The government had additional expense for setting up the system and there has been an added strain on translators and interpreters, but the reduction of expenses drastically outweighed those new costs.
Despite those travel issues, the government insisted they only intend for the app to be used for the pandemic.
Simon Ross, a spokesperson for Government House Leader Pablo Rodriguez, said the app-based votes were a historic step that should speed up votes in the future, but stressed it is designed to come to an end.
“This will allow MPs to vote in a quick and safe manner — anywhere in Canada — and they will have more time to do the rest of their important work. We look forward to having all MPs return to the House of Commons when public health experts deem it safe to do so.”
NDP whip Rachel Blaney said her party expects the app to be temporary, with any consideration of using it in the future to be something for parliamentarians to consider after life returns to normal.
“Our perspective is that this is in place, like all the other tools, just for the pandemic,” he said. “If there are any further discussions it should happen after the pandemic is over.”