Most MPs believe question period heckling is out of control: survey

But opposition uses tactic to hold government to account

Civility in question period has reached a point where no one is listening, a new survey of MPs suggests.

“We’ve lost something in terms of what debate should look like, what good accountability can mean in question period,” said Jane Hilderman, executive director at Samara Canada, a non-profit think tank devoted to citizen engagement.

Released Wednesday, Samara’s report found a majority of MPs — 53 per cent — think heckling is a problem, but 65 per cent confessed to making unscheduled outbursts in the House. It’s not a rare occurrence either — of those who admitted to heckling, nearly 60 per cent said they do it at least once a week. Roughly one-quarter of sitting MPs responded to the survey.

Heckling — when a politician speaks out in Parliament without permission from the Speaker, the non-partisan referee — is typically looked down upon by the public because it’s perceived to be rancorous in nature and diminishes meaningful debate.

“It’s like a theatre of artifice,” Hilderman said. “In the past there’s always been theatre (in question period). But a genuine dramatic moment or spontaneity? Now, it’s predictable.”

However it is one of the tools MPs, particularly those on the opposition bench, can use to hold the government to account — the most com- mon reasons MPs reported for heckling was to “respond to perceived untruths,” because “they are overcome by passion” and to support the home team. That said, 15 per cent think heckling actually increases accountability.

Although Speaker Geoff Regan has cracked down on unruly behaviour and the party leaders have committed to being more civil, not all MPs think decorum in the House of Commons is improving.

“It depends on who you ask,” Hilderman said.

For instance, there is “a big gap” between what men and women hear, she said.

Men tend to heckle more — 69 per cent of male MPs admitted to cheering and jeering out of turn compared to 52 per cent of women. Eighty-five per cent of men reported being on the receiving end of heckles, as did 89 per cent of women.

But it’s the content that’s key — calling out about policy is considered fair game, but when heckling turns personal or discriminatory it diminishes meaningful discussion, Hilderman said. Last year, Tory MP Michelle Rempel wrote an op-ed about the “everyday sexism” she experienced in the House. That was shortly after former immigration minister John McCallum came under fire for telling Rempel, his critic, to be more “cheerful.”

Women were more likely to pick up on those taunts — 67 per cent of female MPs said they hear heckles based on gender, compared to 20 per cent of men. That trend carried over from Samara’s last report in 2015.

Samara makes a handful of recommendations for increasing civility, including fully capturing heckling on camera. Cameras and microphones don’t always pick up heckling over the din in the chamber, which means viewers at home hear muffled noise but can’t see who caused the kerfuffle. Removing that anonymity could discourage MPs from making offensive or disruptive remarks, the report said.

Hilderman also wants to hear fewer talking points by taking away politicians’ prepared notes and clearing the way for genuine debate.

“We’ve come to a point now where . . . scripted talking points have become de rigueur,” Hilderman said. “One inane answer gets a bunch of inane heckles back. There is no listening.”

Reducing the reliance on “party lists,” a roster of MPs scheduled to speak that day, is another way to raise the level of debate. Spontaneously recognizing backbenchers to speak and providing opportunity to weigh in on a whim could reduce the urge to heckle.