Had the motion passed, it would have given the Liberals the power to force overnight debates and adjourn the House for the summer without any notice and with no debate. Liberal House leader Dominic LeBlanc said they still hope to pass the euthanasia bill before a Supreme Court deadline of June 6.
Advertisement
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologised before the Canadian parliament for a third time, saying he expects better behaviour of himself after elbowing a female colleague in the chest and grabbing another politician.
“Members, rightfully, expect better behaviour from anyone in this House”.
“I think as one human being to another, that’s all I can expect from somebody”, Zimmer said of Trudeau’s apology, which he believes was honest.
“I regret my behavior yesterday”, he said.
“Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone”, Trudeau said as he wrapped up the reading from Romans, chapter 12, which offers lessons on how to be a good person.
Hughes, who represents the riding of Algoma-Manitoulin- Kapuskasing, said she had a front row seat for the incident. Trudeau’s government backed down on a controversial motion that would have taken away some of the procedural tools opposition members use to delay the government, including on the euthanasia bill.
Government whip Andrew Leslie said late Thursday the Commons will not deal with the assisted dying bill until after next week’s scheduled parliamentary break.
But Trudeau apparently forgot about spatial awareness – the video shows him elbowing New Democrat Ruth Ellen Brosseau as he pulled Brown out of the group so they could begin voting.
“I apologise for that unreservedly and I look for opportunities to make amends”.
Prime Minister Trudeau quickly pivoted from the incident, offering a complete and full apology to Brosseau and other members.
“Any kind of physicality or manhandling that happens in the House of Commons is obviously a source of concern”.
Much has been made about what it says about the temperament of our PM but what has been less discussed is what precipitated baby Trudeau’s little temper tantrum.
Footage from the House of Commons television feed shows Trudeau wading into a clutch of lawmakers and pulling one through the crowd in order to get the vote started.
But is all this being blown out of proportion?
“I think the Prime Minister acknowledged that he made a mistake”, said Winnipeg South Liberal Terry Duguid.
An apology was expected from the Prime Minister on Wednesday, but to those involved in the 1914 Komagata Maru incident, not over an elbowing incident with the NDP.
The Speaker concluded that Ms Brosseau’s privileges as a member of parliament had been breached, which means the encounter will be examined by an all-party committee.
Advertisement
“It is important that we draw a clear line between what was my unacceptable behaviour and the general tone of the House”, he said.
