In a moment that since has made worldwide headlines, Trudeau is now accused of “manhandling” Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Gord Brown and elbowing New Democrat Party (NDP) MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau in the chest – a moment, she later said, so “overwhelming” that she ended up missing the vote on the controversial bill C-14, Canada’s bill on doctor-assisted suicide, according to Fox News.
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“I regret my behavior yesterday”, he said.
The Bible passage Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chose to read Thursday at the annual national prayer breakfast in Ottawa was chosen long before his physical confrontation in the House of Commons, and its resultant apologies.
The moment: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is seen reaching for a man’s arm in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
“I refuse to think there was any justification of my behaviour…it was on me, it was my mistake, unbecoming of any member including myself”.
“Our objective remains to work with everyone to find the proper mechanism to extend the sitting hours and allow for a more respectful debate on government legislation, and I look forward to working with all members of this House to achieve that objective”. It’s also exclusively the responsibility of the Speaker to ensure that all members are seated for the vote, Masse added. Lawmakers said the prime minister used an expletive.
Footage from the t.v. feed shows Justin Trudeau wading into a group of mostly New Democrat MP’s and pulling Opposition whip Gordon Brown through the crowd to try to get the vote started.
Brosseau says she found the unwanted elbow contact so unsettling that she had to leave the chamber and miss the vote.
“I think people understand that there is a tremendous amount of pressures that come with this job and I am human”, Trudeau said in his Parliament Hill office, which was dotted with pictures of Trudeau, his family, and his former prime minister father as well as a Lego canoe with four miniature figures in it.
Trudeau said he was just trying to help the opposition whip get to his seat and never meant to hurt anyone.
Opposition MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau told the Commons the prime minister elbowed her in the chest.
Opposition MPs said Trudeau could make amends by withdrawing the government’s motion M-6, which would give them enormous power to control the House agenda and limit the opposition’s ability to slow down debate.
The prime minister got no further before MPs and invited onlookers in the packed galleries rose in their seats in a standing ovation, The Star reported.
He apologised before Parliament twice on Wednesday and again Thursday.
Trudeau-led Liberal Party, which has four Sikh ministers in the cabinet, had promised a formal apology during the election campaign a year ago.
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Ruth Ellen Brosseau, the parliament member on the receiving end of Trudeau’s elbow, was apparently so upset she had to leave the chamber.
