‘Hamas supporters.’ ‘Pro-Russia.’ MPs hurl insults and accusations as Speaker struggles to keep order

 

By Tonda MacCharles Ottawa Bureau Chief

Monday, November 27, 2023

OTTAWA—Tempers flared in the House of Commons Monday over insults hurled across the aisle that MPs argued went beyond the usual nasty and partisan bounds, and the Speaker struggled to impose order.

The Liberal government House Leader Karina Gould suggested the Conservatives’ vote against a free-trade deal with Ukraine was driven by a “pro-Russian and anti-Ukraine” wing in its caucus, and accused the Official Opposition of failing to tell Canadians the truth, triggering an uproar on the Conservative bench.

It all came after a Conservative MP painted the NDP as “Hamas supporters” on Thursday — drawing a rebuke from the Speaker’s chair on Monday after yet another raucous question period.

What it showed is that two months after members of Parliament from all parties voted for Liberal Greg Fergus as Speaker in the elected chamber — in part because of his vow to bring more civility and respect back to parliamentary debate — Fergus has effected little change.

https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/hamas-supporters-pro-russia-mps-hurl-insults-and-accusations-as-speaker-struggles-to-keep-order/article_09daba53-4960-5d8e-9cb4-0ed378ff6d0f.html#tncms-source=login