According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the House affairs committee has approved a proposal from Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien to put on hold all-expense-paid meal trays during hearings.
While justifying the proposal, Therrien said: “During Covid-19, you know some people are losing their jobs.
“Some people are going through real difficulties, so I think we should remove the lunches and just get our own.”
A recent survey by Statistics Canada’s Labour Force reveals there are just above 2 million unemployed Canadians.
Therrien said MPs should not be chowing down on free food during the period of pandemic and recession.
He said: “The committee must suspend the ordering of meals. If MPs want to eat a meal, they can pay for it themselves.”
“I think we should lead by example. Send a message that we are lucky to have a job, very lucky. We should be able to get our own food.”
The chairman of the committee, Liberal MP Ruby Sahota, agreed and said MPs “absolutely” should supply their own lunches.
MPs’ working meals expenses at committee hearings are not well spelt out in Public Accounts. Typically, committee meal trays comprise sandwiches.
Footing all hearing-related bills incurred by Commons committees cost almost $2.6 million.
