Horgan backs Speaker on name-calling ban

Premier John Horgan says he lowered the level of debate in British Columbia’s legislature by engaging in aggressive heckling while in opposition, but now that he’s on the government side, he supports a ban on derogatory language and name calling by politicians.

Horgan said Wednesday he backs a ruling by legislature Speaker Darryl Plecas to no longer allow questions that refer to cabinet ministers by nicknames because they’re derogatory, disrespectful and reflect poorly on the house.

Plecas also said he will not tolerate future challenges to his authority by legislature members.

“I gave as good as I got as an opposition member,” Horgan said.

“I’m not suggesting I was without fault in lowering the level of debate in the legislature at certain times over my time as an opposition member.”

But he said Plecas has made a ruling to set a new tone of debate in the legislature and politicians should respect that.

Horgan said the current minority standing in the legislature — with the New Democrats at 41 seats, Liberals 41, Greens three, one Independent and one vacant seat — signals the time for change has arrived.

Plecas said he had to act after the Opposition Liberals persisted in addressing New Democrat cabinet ministers and the premier by nicknames rather than their formal titles.

The Liberals have called Horgan minister of defence, and Agriculture Minister Lana Popham minister of intimidation during recent question periods.

“I conclude the unofficial and at times mocking or derogatory titles when directing questions to a minister of the Crown is indeed disrespectful to the minister and reflects poorly on this institution,” Plecas told the legislature.

Plecas was elected in May as a member of the Liberal party, but was dumped from the party after accepting the Speaker’s position in the slim minority government. He now sits as an Independent.

Liberal house leader Mike de Jong said Plecas unilaterally changed parliamentary language rules.

Interim Liberal leader Rich Coleman said Wednesday outside of the legislature that the nickname he would choose for Plecas would be “incompetent.”