Earlier in the news, we told you that the House Meeting had an unexpected break in transmission due to a blackout that happened around 11:30. It wasn't restored until about 40 minutes later, and the meeting resumed after 1:00 pm.
But sometime during the extended break, the Leader of the Opposition ducked out and didn't return. His deputy, Hugo Patt, also didn't make it to today's meeting. So on the opposition bench sat the two members who Shyne Barrow says have been expelled.
And since he removed Patrick Faber and Tracy Panton from all House Committees, there was no opposition to weigh in on the matters discussed today in those committees.
Panton lamented on that today.
Tracy Panton, UDP Albert
"I think it is, if I can be candid, a travesty, it's almost a national disgrace. The two members from the opposition side who have been assigned to all committee meetings are not here. And when you silence the voices of the people, you silence and you impact negatively the democracy of the country."
"You silence the people and you compromise the democracy of the country."
Reporter
"So did you make any attempts to enter any of the meetings or Mr. Faber?"
Tracy Panton, UDP Albert
"No, we certainly did not. We have not been. It is the prerogative of the leader of the opposition to determine who will sit in House committee meetings. And certainly he did not extend that invitation to us. We tried to be as best as we can, very respectful of the processes, here in Parliament, and also we have an opportunity to voice our concerns when the sitting of the House resumes."
Reporter
"So basically on the matters discussed today in these meetings, there was no opposition to give to weigh in on any of these matters?"
Tracy Panton, UDP Albert
"I was not in the meeting, but as I understand it, there were no opposition members in those meetings."
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