Manitoba Speaker takes a pass on 'take your pants off' kerfuffle
Speaker asks House to slow down on points of privilege; says overuse is tainting public perception
The Speaker of the House says NDP MLA Rob Altemeyer said "take a pass on it," not "take your pants off," in the Manitoba Legislature earlier this month.
On Thursday afternoon, Speaker Myrna Driedger dismissed the complaint, called a point of privilege, raised by Progressive Conservative Cabinet Minister Rochelle Squires on Oct. 13, in which Squires accused Altemeyer of telling her to take her pants off during question period a week prior.
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In her ruling, Driedger said Altemeyer's words were shouted off-the-record — that is, when he didn't have the floor — and Speakers can't rule on off-the-record comments.
She added that questions of language should be brought up as points of order, not points of privilege, so the complaint failed on that point, too.
Driedger said she listened to the audio recording of the incident and didn't agree with Squires.
"I could see the potential for various interpretations of what was said, but when I listened, I heard the phrase, and I quote, 'Take a pass on that,'" she said.
Squires apologizes, Altemeyer accepts
Squires apologized to the House, the Speaker and Altemeyer. Altemeyer rose and accepted her apology in the House.
After question period, she told reporters she viewed the experience as a "learning opportunity."
"I am encouraged that this entire incident will serve as a reminder for myself and all my colleagues in the chamber on decorum, and I do feel encouraged that we are turning a page in the House," she said.
Squires wouldn't say if she's still confident she heard what she thought she did. When she raised her point of privilege, Squires said she was told by colleagues what they believed Altemeyer had said.
"I regret that my focus has been somewhat altered from the work of government," she said.
"It was regretful day. There was a lot of heckling," she said. "There certainly is an opportunity to misconstrue what other members are saying if it's not on the record."
Premier Brian Pallister said he joined Squires in apologizing to the House and Altemeyer.
House needs to be more respectful, Speaker says
Driedger used the occasion to reprimand MLAs for bad behaviour throughout the session.
"Each of you is here today due to the support and encouragement of thousands of Manitobans: hardworking citizens who put their faith in you to be their voice in this place," she said.
"I would encourage you to think of those citizens every time you speak in this House, and to strive to be worthy of their support and respect."
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She chastised members for overusing points of privilege throughout the session, reminding them that disagreements, failure to answer questions and comments made off-the-record aren't fodder for points of privilege.
"I fear that if we continue to see privilege raised as often as it has been recently, we may run the risk of seeing a devaluation of the intent of parliamentary privilege," she said.
"This recent trend has also cast a shadow on how the media and the general public are viewing our assembly."
Her ruling follows a similar ruling on Monday when she dismissed PC MLA Sarah Guillemard's point of privilege on three NDP MLAs she said targeted and shamed female members.