Verbal jabs, not physical altercations the norm in Parliament: professor
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — Testy words and verbal jabs are often thrown in Ottawa, but an expert says it’s rare for Canadian politicians to spar physically.
Political scientist Hamish Telford says people have been ejected from the House of Commons for using unparliamentary language, but he can’t remember a time when two politicians got into a physical altercation.
The University of the Fraser Valley professor says Parliament has always been a place of vigorous debate, full of heckling and name calling, but an incident Wednesday was surprising because of its rarity.
NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau has accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of elbowing her in the chest during a confrontation prior to a key vote Wednesday.