Canada’s Parliament to Shut Down Until April 20 Due to Coronavirus Concerns

Canada’s House of Commons will be shutting down for at least five weeks amid coronavirus concerns.

Friday’s decision to shut down the Parliament follows news that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, has tested positive for the virus.

“All parties in Parliament agreed to the suspension, which means lawmakers will miss two weeks of sessions since they had previously planned to be away next week and two weeks in April. The House is scheduled to next meet on Monday, April 20,” the Associated Press reports.

Prime Minister Trudeau is currently governing remotely as he is under a self-imposed quarantine. He reportedly is not showing any symptoms and neither are their three children.

Trudeau is expected to address the nation at some point on Friday. AP reports that he will likely be warning Canadians not to travel outside the nation unless absolutely necessary.

“This just shows you how seriously our government and members of the house are taking this,” Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez said of the decision by the House of Commons.

In order for a deal to be made to close the government, lawmakers have agreed to first ratify the new North American Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to take place on Friday.

“We are going to be able to get through this if everyone is going to follow the advice of our medical professionals and experts,” Trudeau told the CBC.

 

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