Poilievre penalized for not withdrawing comments that set off question period fracas

House Speaker Greg Fergus docked questions from Pierre Poilievre on Thursday after the Conservative leader declined to withdraw comments he made in the House of Commons last week.

"The chair has offered the leader of the Official Opposition the opportunity to make amends regarding the words he used," Fergus said just before question period.

"Having not received such a commitment on his part and the member having not withdrawn his comments, I will therefore remove three questions from the leader of the Official Opposition."

During question period last week, Poilievre used his opening round of questions to criticize both the Bloc Québécois and NDP for not supporting his motion to topple the Liberal government.

At one point, the Conservative leader called NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh "a fake, a phony and a fraud." Singh responded by rising from his seat and walking into the aisle to yell at Poilievre.

Two MPs who were in the House told CBC News that Singh said, "I'm right here, bro," while another said they heard the NDP leader say, "I'm right here."

WATCH | Speaker removes three questions from Poilievre during question period: 

Poilievre loses three QP questions after not responding to Speaker’s request

2 months ago

Duration 0:28

House Speaker Greg Fergus removed three questions from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre after he did not respond to Fergus’s request to make amends after tensions flared recently with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in question period.

Roughly half an hour before Thursday's question period started, Fergus addressed the House regarding last week's incident and reprimanded both Poilievre and Singh for their actions.

In French, Fergus described Poilievre's comments as "excessively scornful and personal."

"It seems to me equally clear that, in response to such criticisms, it's unacceptable for a member to leave their seat and move toward another member," Fergus said in French.

"In the House, we resolve our disagreements with words, not with physical acts of this nature."

WATCH | Speaker threatens to remove some questions from Poilievre during question period: 

Speaker threatens to remove some questions from Poilievre during question period

2 months ago

Duration 1:02

House Speaker Greg Fergus says he reached out to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and offered them the ‘opportunity to make amends' after tensions flared between the two men last Thursday in question period. Fergus says only Singh replied, saying he would ‘act differently in the future.’

Fergus said that following last week's incident, he reached out to both Poilievre and Singh and asked them to "make amends." The Speaker said Singh responded by agreeing to "act differently in the future."

But Fergus said Poilievre didn't respond and, as a result, he asked the Conservative leader to publicly withdraw his comments in the House.

"Party leaders have a heightened responsibility to be role models," Fergus said.

"Rigorous debate and even profound disagreement are possible without resorting to such comments or actions."

Fergus ended his pre-question period statement by asking MPs to be more "judicious" in their words going forward and warning them that they could face discipline.

Liberals, NDP question Speaker's ruling

Following Thursday's question period, NDP MP Heather McPherson asked whether Fergus had gone far enough in his ruling.

Poilievre still asked a few questions on Thursday. McPherson said that shouldn't have been allowed.

"The regular practice is that a member isn't recognized to speak until they have withdrawn and that is not being applied and we have some concerns about the mixed messages," she said.

Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux echoed McPherson's argument and suggested that it was the Conservative Party that had been penalized for losing questions, not Poilievre himself.

Fergus acknowledged their concerns but said the Speaker can exercise some discretion over the House rules.