Commons Speaker calms shouting matches after Poilievre attacks Singh

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The House of Commons erupted in all-out cacophony during question period on Thursday after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh a “phony and a fraud.”

Poilievre criticized the Bloc Québécois and NDP for refusing to support a Conservative non-confidence motion aimed at toppling the Liberal government.

Here’s what happened in the House of Commons.

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How did the conflict between Poilievre and Singh begin?

Twice Poilievre took aim at Singh. After the first barb was thrown, Speaker Greg Fergus rose and said that he had been put “in an uncomfortable situation.”

Poilievre ignored him and focused on an NDP advertisement for a byelection in Winnipeg earlier this week. He said it included Singh talking about tearing up the “the carbon tax coalition.”

“He was going to stop fighting for his pension and start fighting for the people.”

However, in refusing to sign on to the Conservative non-confidence motion, Poilievre said Singh’s actions mean he is “a fake, a phony and a fraud. How can anyone ever believe what this sellout NDP leader says in the future?”

When he sat down the House burst into voluminous shouting matches.

What did Singh do and say?

At one point, reports the CBC, Singh left his seat and walked into the aisle to shout at Poilievre. Two MPs told CBC they heard Singh say, “I’m right here, bro.”  Another MP told the Toronto Sun that Singh stood in the aisle daring Poilievre to “say it to my face.”

As House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus tried to restore order, Poilievre can be seen on camera pointing off screen in what appears to be Singh’s direction and seems to be mouthing the words, “Do it.”

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Neither Singh’s actions, nor his words, were caught on camera.

Why were the the mics turned off during the kerfuffle?

Fergus attempted to quell the din for several minutes, moving his hand in a dampening motion, and reaching down to a switch near the right of his chair, turning off the microphones that feed the parliamentary video recording system. While that keeps egregious comments made during shouting matches off the record, it is also done as a polite Commons convention to preserve the hearing of the translators listening in.

Fergus did that three times over the course of several minutes before the House quieted enough for him to speak, when he reminded the House that the principal purpose of question period is “to make government accountable to the people of Canada.”

Why were Poilievre’s comments controversial?

Poilievre kicked off question period by referring to Quebec Premier Francois Legault’s pleas to Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet to reverse his earlier decision and vote in favour of the Conservative non-confidence motion. However, question period is supposed to be used by Opposition party MPs to question the government, not each other.

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Fergus rose to give a general reminder to MPs to direct questions toward the government. The comment didn’t have any effect on Poilievre, who again accused the Bloc of abandoning the Quebec’s separatist government.

“This is a matter that has nothing to do with the federal government,” he said in French. But Poilievre pressed on, turning his attention to Singh.

Since Poilievre’s questions were not aimed at the Liberal government ranks, no response came from their benches and he was able to rise repeatedly.

“There were some questions asked, but not related to the government administration, so there was no response to that,” noted Fergus in his comments to the House. “It is important to make sure that we do that.”

Any other political comments, he added, should be made outside of question period.

Since Poilievre’s comments about Singh were not technically directed at him, the NDP leader had no formal opportunity to respond.

How did the Speaker respond?

Fergus admonished the House, as a whole, for its breakdown in decorum. According to House of Commons Practice and Procedure, an MP’s question should not “reflect on the character” of members of the House or “create disorder.”

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“While the microphone was off…there might have been some strong words exchanged between members,” Fergus said. “I ask members to please remember that Canadians are looking at us. Let us conduct ourselves in a way…befitting … our constituencies and the country.”

For months, Poilievre has been reportedly attacking the Bloc Québécois and NDP indirectly during his questions to the government.

The vote on the Conservative non-confidence motion is expected to take place next week.

National Post

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