Honourable senators will remember that on November 22, 2021, we attempted to return the Senate Chamber to full chamber attendance. One of the conditions was that when in the chamber, senators are to wear masks at all times. If, for medical reasons, a senator is unable to wear a mask, we can accommodate senators when they wish to speak by either socially distancing them in the chamber if we have room or allowing for the use of the gallery when senators are not speaking and then rearranging so when senators are speaking they can be socially distanced in the chamber.

I want to remind senators that the use of masks at all times while in the chamber is necessary for now.

Thank you, Your Honour. My interpretation of the rules you sent out — and I will respect them — was that if we had social distancing space around us that we could take the mask off if we had a cumbersome time breathing. It is a little bit cumbersome.

I dislike wearing a mask as much as everybody else when speaking because it is cumbersome. I did say to one senator in particular, who said that he had medical problems speaking, to check with the senators around that individual, and if they were uncomfortable with the mask not being worn, then we could arrange for them to be socially distanced.

If that’s the case at any time, I would just ask senators to bring it to my attention. We’ll make the appropriate accommodations.

Thank you, Your Honour.