OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre will not be allowed to speak in the House of Commons on Tuesday for saying that Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is pandering to Hamas supporters, said Speaker Greg Fergus.
In a statement, Fergus said that there have been two occasions where Poilievre has not heeded the Speaker’s rulings regarding unparliamentary language. The first time, he was named and, the second time, questions were removed from his party in question period.
Fergus said that Monday’s events have resulted in a third instance. He asked Poilievre to withdraw his comments at the earliest opportunity, but since it has not happened, Poilievre will not be allowed to speak in the House for the remainder of the day.
“Disregarding the authority of the Chair, who is tasked with enforcing these rules, has a corrosive effect on our proceedings,” said Fergus. “I would ask all members to reflect on this, especially the House officers for each party.”
“Ultimately these situations also leave an increasingly negative impression for the public on the important work of the House and its members.”
Monday was the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in Israel. Poilievre used his time in question period to ask Joly to condemn the “increasingly common and terrifying antisemitic chants” calling for Israel’s elimination during Canadian protests.
Joly sidestepped the question and instead listed the names of the Canadian victims of the Oct. 7 attack, while promising to stand with the Jewish people.
Poilievre interpreted the minister’s prepared statement as refusing to condemn antisemitic remarks. “She continues to pander to Hamas supporters and the Liberal party as part of her leadership campaign rather than doing her job,” he said.
Joly shot back: “If there is a day where we do not make politics about people’s lives being taken or people being killed, it is today. We are all against any form of antisemitism in this House or any form of discrimination.”
Joly then asked Poilievre to apologize.
“If there was ever a day when we needed a government to stand up for what was right, this would be the day,” said Poilievre.
Fergus said Tuesday that Poilievre “is an experienced member who is well versed in our practices and procedures” and reminded him that his actions must respect decorum.
Poilievre’s director of media relations accused Fergus of showing his “partisan bias” and doubled down on his leader’s prior comments.
“The Foreign Affairs Minister refused to condemn revolting anti-Jewish slogans chanted by pro-Hamas mobs on Canadian streets. She also refuses to defend Israel’s right to retaliate against terrorists and tyrants that attack the Jewish State,” said Sebastian Skamski.
“She is doing this to further her leadership ambitions at the expense of Canada’s foreign policy,” he added.
Since March, Liberal MP Yvan Baker has not been recognized by the Speaker of the House of Commons after he refused to withdraw his comment accusing the Conservatives of having a “pro-Putin wing,” in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Fergus said that given the sanction to Poilievre, he is ready to “move on” and let Baker participate in debate as of Wednesday.
National Post
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