Kamloops MP reacts to chaos in the Commons

May 18, 2016 | 4:41 PM

OTTAWA, ON — Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod was in the opposition benches this afternoon as the House of Commons devolved into chaos.

“I’ve never seen anything that bad on the floor in the House of Commons, never in my seven years that I’ve been here,” McLeod told CFJC Today. 

McLeod is referring to a bizarre exchange in which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stormed across the floor, grabbed Opposition Whip Gord Brown by the arm, and ushered him to his seat.

“Certainly it was a very disturbing event in the House of Commons,” said McLeod.

In the process, Trudeau apparently elbowed NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau in the chest.

McLeod says it was a serious incident.

“The Speaker has deemed that it is potentially a breach of privilege in the house, which is very serious. Certainly there is going to be continued discussion in terms of when a member’s privilege is breached, it is considered very serious.”

Trudeau apologized a short time later, and Liberals are saying his frustration may have been a perception that the Opposition was trying to delay a vote in the Commons.

But McLeod says all it takes is for the Government Whip to be in his seat, and the vote can begin.

“As one of the NDP said, the Conservatives would never even have done what the Liberal government is doing, and this government said they were going to do things differently. It’s been a very difficult week, and it was a very disturbing incident.” 

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