MPs rebuked again for breaching 'parliamentary traditions' during question period
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OTTAWA — Tuesday saw the Speaker of the House of Commons again remind MPs of the rules after yet another raucous question period.
Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre earned another rebuke from Speaker Greg Fergus after his first question was directed toward the Bloc Quebecois instead of the government.
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“Tomorrow, the Bloc will have to vote on a motion to decide, yes or no, if they’re going to keep the most centralizing and costly government in power, in the history of Canada,” Poilievre said in French.
“The Quebec premier says that the Quebec nation doesn’t want to show its confidence in this government, even after the Liberal minister of immigration said that he broke the immigration system. Even though the minister doesn’t trust in his track record, why should the Bloc have trust in him?”
That comment brought Fergus to his feet.
“You have raised this issue yesterday and last week — you need to address questions toward the government,” Fergus said in French.
“It’s important for questions to be relevant to the government and administration so members can provide clear answers.”
More catcalls came during a response from an animated Health Minister Mark Holland, who — like the prime minister last week — accused Poilievre of using catchy slogans as a substitute for sound policy.
“The difference between those slogans and the nonsense he throws around — the vacuous garbage that’s best left for Nabisco, not the House of Commons,” Holland said, strangely taking a potshot at the world’s largest baker.
Fergus reminded MPs to once again cool their jets, remarking that comments made during Holland’s response were “skating pretty close to the line.”
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Later, Conservative MP Michael Barrett got a talking to from Fergus after shouting out, “Which 35 of you are gonna be here after the next election?” during a response by government House leader Karina Gould.
“The honourable member from Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, I’d appreciate it if you … would refrain from speaking out of turn,” Fergus said.
Last week, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh became so enraged at Poilievre that he stood in the aisles of the House, purportedly challenging the Opposition leader to a physical fight.
On Monday, Fergus told MPs to watch their behaviour.
“There were words which fall outside of what’s acceptable,” Fergus said ahead of Monday’s question period.
“There was behaviour which was also outside of the parliamentary traditions.”
— With files from Canadian Press
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