43rd Canadian Parliament

Among the first pieces of legislation adopted in the 43rd Parliament was the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement Implementation Act. Its passage was expedited as the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was aware of the impending closure and lockdown measures due to COVID-19.[1] Later that same day, on March 13, 2020, the sitting Members of Parliament agreed unanimously to shut Parliament's doors for five weeks (pursuant to Standing Order 28) because of the developing COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

In the spring of 2020, Kitchener South-Hespeler MP Marwan Tabbara was charged with two counts of assault, one count of breaking and entering and committing an indictable offence, and one count of criminal harassment. Tabbara had been arrested, briefly jailed, and released on bail in April 2020, but these events did not come to light -- including the awareness of the Liberal caucus, or the office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau -- until two months later, in June 2020, as the information was not released to the public. Tabbara's bail hearing was conducted remotely by a Justice of the Peace in London, Ontario, 120 kilometres away from the jailhouse Tabbara occupied. After the news was made public, Tabbara either left or was ejected from the Liberal Party caucus, and now sits as an independent MP.[3][4]

During spring of 2020, special sittings of parliament are occasionally in session during the Covid-19 pandemic. Each party contributes a limited number of members, who sit on an as agreed upon basis.[5]

The officers of Parliament for the 43rd Parliament are set out below.