Madam Speaker, I am rising on a matter of privilege as it relates to last night's proceedings. The appropriate letter was submitted to your office earlier this morning pursuant to Standing Order 48(2). I am rising at the earliest opportunity, having had a chance to review the statement the Speaker made earlier today, as well as to do the necessary procedural research.
We appreciate the ruling and the guidance provided earlier today, but I believe this matter rises to the threshold to be considered a breach of privilege and a contempt of the House. As was noted this morning, House of Commons Procedure and Practice states in Chapter 13, page 643, “During the taking of a vote, no Member is permitted to...make any noise or disturbance from the time the Speaker begins to put the question until the results of the vote are announced.”
The Standing Orders are also clear. Standing Order 16(1) states, under “Decorum”, “When the Speaker is putting a question, no member shall enter, walk out of or across the House, or make any noise or disturbance.”
This is more than a point of order. What happened last night clearly amounted to contempt. Even leading up to yesterday evening, there has been an escalation in the opposition lobby and in this chamber in terms of the levels of toxicity and unacceptable behaviour. On multiple occasions, this behaviour has been raised and has gone unaddressed. Even yesterday, earlier in the day, there were times during the votes when members had to scream in the lobby in order to be heard by their colleagues and staff as a result of generally disruptive behaviour from the Conservatives. As the final vote approached, we knew this behaviour would be intentionally escalated in order to disrupt the vote.
We identified this expectation directly to the Speaker and to the table. Nothing was done. When the vote did take place, even with an earpiece, I was unable to hear my name and the names of my colleagues as they were called for the vote. Being able to hear the proceedings is critical to my job as deputy House leader and to the functioning of this place.
Why were all of these actions taken? It was because there was a deliberate and concerted attempt to intimidate members on the basis of their vote.
As you know, Madam Speaker, the reference books clearly state that intimidation of members could rise to a contempt of the House. House of Commons Procedure and Practice states in Chapter 3, page 107:
In order to fulfill their parliamentary duties, Members should be able to go about their parliamentary business undisturbed. Assaulting, threatening, or insulting a Member during a proceeding of Parliament, or while the Member is circulating within the Parliamentary Precinct, is a violation of the rights of Parliament.
Bosc and Gagnon's text, citing Maingot's Parliamentary Privilege in Canada, Chapter 12, page 230, is even more explicit: “Any form of intimidation of a Member with respect to the Member’s actions during a proceeding in Parliament could amount to contempt.”
These actions are not just intimidation; they amount to a disrespect of this place. Canadians expect members of Parliament to debate and disagree vigorously, but we need to uphold a standard of conduct. House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Chapter 3, states on page 135, “Parliamentary privilege holds Members responsible for acting in character with the function they fulfill as elected representatives. Disobedience to orders of the House, and actions such as...intimidating persons are offences for which Members can be reprimanded”.
The disrespect shown to this place disrupted members, staff and pages, leading to a toxic environment and an unsafe workplace.
As was noted in the statement this morning, I was on my feet immediately after the vote in order to raise this matter right away. I believed that I had your attention and would be recognized. My caucus mates were yelling for me to be heard, and members of the table were visibly bringing to your attention the fact that I was on my feet. As an officer of an official party, it is completely unacceptable that I was not accorded this fundamental right to intervene, and it did not end there.
After we adjourned, I approached the Chair to ask how this could have been allowed. As I tried to address this with the Speaker, Conservative members of Parliament continued to call me names, harass me and attempt to bully me.
How can I do my job if Conservatives yell personal insults as I try to talk to the Speaker? To be harassed and intimidated while doing a fundamental part of my job as deputy House leader and, indeed, a member of Parliament, is beyond unacceptable.
Finally, I will bring to your attention a ruling by one of the Speaker's predecessors, the current House leader of the official opposition, on December 6, 2011:
Demonstrations are not part of the accepted standard of decorum in this chamber, not in the galleries by visitors to the House, and not on the floor by members of the House. Even brief applause, which has been tolerated at times when a particular member rising to vote is being acknowledged for his or her contribution to an initiative, is never encouraged. In fact, Standing Order 16(1) states:
When the Speaker is putting a question, no Member shall enter, walk out of or across the House, or make any noise or disturbance.
I repeat “or make any noise or disturbance”. This role has traditionally applied until the results of the vote are announced. Clearly, sustained applause during a vote is out of order and should not happen again.
That is just applause, which does not even come close to what happened last night. The actions last night went well beyond the line drawn by the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle and, in my view, amount to a breach of privilege. They had an impact on my ability to do my job, on the ability of my caucus mates to do theirs and on the political and non-political staff who ensure this place operates in a way that is befitting of what Canadians expect.
I understand the Conservatives have had a bad week. They have spent the whole week justifying their vote against a tax cut. They were clearly unhappy and that was visibly escalating throughout the day. However, we are seeing a dangerous pattern, where acts of harassment are escalating. Gentle pleas and reminders are not enough. Members need to be protected in this place. What happened last night amounts to contempt of the House. I believe normal debate should be set aside as members debate what happened and how it was allowed to happen.
