Massive screens in the House of Commons (pic from right before the session started). Now sitting at press balcony; me and the floor photogs seem to be only ones in masks. Weird times. 
The screens are right above the press bannister so the MPs are all facing the two of us in the gallery right now.
I am wearing a polo. This is a committee so it’s not subject to the strict rules of men needing a tie and suit jacket to be in the chamber
The heckling here is quite muted. The whip just had a socially distanced gaggle with about seven MPs. Which was kind of awkward (being heard two metres apart but not by the nearby opposition or press gallery).
MP Stubbs made a point about oil sector decline on the screen; her Tory colleagues did the usual cheer/applause/desk-banging that happens when the speaker is in the chamber
MP Bessette just spoke but the audio flipped in and out a few times; sound came through entire time on secondary speakers but main ones clipped in and out. I presume those using earpieces heard the whole thing.
MP Greg Ferguson is speaking on his deck, it appears, on the screen. In a suit. The MPs in suits and dresses with scarves look jealously at the 30°C weather in Aylmer.
So, an MP was making a statement thanking the frontline and quite a few MPs here were having a 20-second jovial back-and-forth that was quite involved. Instead of listening to the MP being streamed. I am not making a point but illustrating difference. (1/2)
In both regular commuters and formal HoC sittings, there is always side chatter with nearby colleagues. But you really can’t have much of an exchange across the aisle when someone is talking in a regular HoC sitting because only one person can have the floor.
In terms of the regional distribution, the Liberal MPs in chamber are largely ON/QC (which obviously is a lot of their caucus). Ditto NDP. The Tories have a mix with quite a share from AB/SK. Manitobans: Lamoureux and Bezan.
I can see in the back (north end) of chamber a staffer sanitizing one of the two translation booths and I. An see through the glass that it is really an involved process. There are two interpreters/techs sitting beside each other in the other cubby.
In the hallways, all the doors to the chamber are open, with guards in front of each. So no one touches handles or buttons.
Gotta run, folks. 👋
