Canada PoliticsTrudeau’s ‘elbowgate’ elicits strong reaction from Opposition
[Justin Trudeau was accused of manhandling the Conservative whip and elbowing an NDP MP on Wednesday in the House of Commons. GLOBAL NEWS]
Opposition MPs reacted strongly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized again for his behaviour in the House of Commons now dubbed “elbowgate.”
On Wednesday, Trudeau walked into a crowd of MPs, mostly from the NDP, while pulling Conservative whip Gordon Brown through the crowd, and in the process he appeared to elbow NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau.
Brosseau later left the House, missing a vote on the motion to limit debate on the assisted dying bill, which Trudeau had been trying to get started when he crossed the floor. That motion later was defeated by a vote of 172-137.
Trudeau apologized in the House on Thursday for the incident, saying, “Members, rightfully, expect better behaviour from anyone in this House. I expect better behaviour of myself.”
Several MPs spoke afterwards in the House about the incident and the subsequent apology. Here are seven of the most notable reactions.
Rona Ambrose
Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose said Trudeau’s actions disrespected all MPs, not just those directly involved.
“Everything he did from the moment he rose from his seat was unnecessary and unsettling,” she said. “It was nothing less than an affront to everyone in this House.”
Ambrose said if the incident had happened in any other workplace, the consequences for the person in Trudeau’s position would be much more serious. She also said it was indicative of the prime minister’s overall attitude towards the other parties in Parliament.
“From the beginning, from the very first day in fact, we’ve all had the sneaking suspicion that the prime minister thinks that the Opposition is a bit of an inconvenience,” Ambrose said.
Peter Kent
“The prime minister’s behaviour and the profanity spoken to honourable members last night is at odds with his many statements professing high standards about bullying, about respect for women and about respect for this House,” Conservative MP Peter Kent said in the House on Thursday.
Kent also recalled an incident from December 2011 when Trudeau had to apologize after calling him a “piece of sh–” during question period.
Referring to the “loud, crude insult” in 2011, Kent said that he accepted Trudeau’s apology at the time.
“Now, we’ve heard the Prime Minister’s apology today,” Kent continued. “It was delivered with, I believe, humility. I believe there is sincerity in the words that he spoke to the House today.”
But Kent also said that he hoped Trudeau sought out counselling for anger management and that Trudeau’s “spontaneous, impetuous crossing of the floor last night, touching a fellow colleague and pushing and issuing profane comments, is not only a breach of our privilege but it is a contempt of Parliament.”
Linda Duncan
Linda Duncan was one of several NDP MPs who decried the prime minister’s actions on both Wednesday and Thursday. Like Kent, Duncan said Thursday that she believed that Trudeau’s apology that day was sincere. But she also said it wasn’t good enough.
“He apologized for his physical assault but he’s not apologized for the assault on our rights and privileges,” she said.
Stockwell Day
The Alberta MP, and former Canadian Alliance leader, said that Trudeau’s actions were a direct contradiction to Trudeau’s appearance at the MPs prayer breakfast, where he read Bible scripture about treating people with respect and kindness.
The prime minister’s behaviour was “surreal” and “disturbing,” Day said in the House on Thursday.
“We all know what it’s like to lose our temper, but I just have never seen that and I was in a provincial legislature for 14 years, I was in a federal Parliament for 11 years,” he said. “I have just never seen a prime minister doing that. I don’t know that I have ever seen a member of a party grab another member.”
Michael Cooper
The Conservative MP from St. Albert-Edmonton called the prime minister’s actions on Wednesday an assault.
“What took place yesterday was an assault,” Michael Cooper said in the House on Thursday. “Was a criminal assault.”
Candice Bergen
Candice Bergen was another Conservative MP who decried the prime minister for the Wednesday incident — specifically the physical contact with colleagues.
The MP from Manitoba said that for someone in a workplace to “to physically touch (someone), it is so unbelievable to have seen it” on Thursday in the House.
She also directed some anger at other Liberal MPs who were present on Wednesday.
“I saw some of them cheering when he charged over here,” Bergen said.
Colin Carrie
Colin Carrie, a Conservative MP, addressed the Liberal health minister in the House on Thursday, asking Jane Philpott what her duty would be as a doctor if a patient comes to her with an incident like this “physical molestation.”
He also said the Liberal government will do whatever is required to push through their agenda, and said that Trudeau became angry because the Speaker was required to break a tie vote.
