Some MPs are demanding more discipline from House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus after an exchange between two party leaders last week got so heated one MP thought it may actually come to physical blows. Fergus smiles as he participates in the daily Speakers parade to begin the session, May 29, 2024 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus says he expects MPs to behave better than they did last week, when an exchange between two party leaders got so heated one MP thought it may actually come to physical blows.
Fergus says he hopes to have more to say later this week in light of several demands from MPs for more discipline in the House.
In question period on Thursday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stepped out from behind his desk to shout at the Conservative leader after Pierre Poilievre called Singh a phoney and a fraud for his refusal to vote to bring down the Liberal government.
The Conservatives insist Singh challenged Poilievre to a fight, while NDP House leader Peter Julian says Singh was merely standing up to bullying from the Tory leader.
All of it had Green Party Leader Elizabeth May fearing the two may start throwing punches.
May and Julian have both called on the Speaker to do more to rein in the antics that they say have degraded decorum in the House of Commons.
After the exchange last week, Fergus asked the MPs to respect the long-standing traditions of the House but did not ask anyone with withdraw their comments or apologize.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2024.
