Elbowgate or tempest in a teapot?
Canadians have become accustomed to watching politicians make fools of themselves with shouting matches and crude insults. Now, there’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s latest undignified display of manhandling several of his opponents.
The Tory attack ads against Trudeau during the election campaign were not only relentless, brutal and unwarranted, but also a sign of how rigid and ruthless the Harper government was toward opponents. As opposition leader, Trudeau remained calm and composed throughout the campaign, his strength and courage exemplary, and Canadians rewarded him with a strong majority government.
He promised to bring decorum to the House and change the nature of political discourse. But his decision to cross the aisle and confront his opponents showed bad judgment.
He has made a number of meaningful changes, but one thing is certain: his personal temperament or frustration with the opposition can never justify swearing at them or manhandling his critics. This will only serve to further exacerbate his problems as prime minister. Robert Ariano, Scarborough
No one in the House had the courage to confront the opposition’s gang that had deliberately formed a physical barrier to block Conservative whip Gord Brown from doing his job in a timely manner. Our prime minister was the only one who cared enough to take action, and although some of his actions may have been inappropriate, he sincerely apologized, several times. No one from the opposition gang, however, apologized for their unacceptable behaviour and dishonest tactics in initiating the situation. Each person who participated in the group wrongdoing should be held accountable. N. Hull, Barrie
Nice to see excitement in the otherwise dull House of Commons when Trudeau became impatient with the opposition MPs’ delay tactics in casting their votes to restrict debate on physician-assisted dying. Trudeau is merely following the tradition of other Liberal prime ministers like Jean Chrétien who put a stranglehold on a provocative protester, and his dad, “Fuddle Duddle,” the only prime minister willing to lift a finger. John Clubine, Etobicoke
An old proverb from India states, “Whatever we are filled with spills out when we are bumped.” If that’s true then Trudeau’s manhandling of Gord Brown should fill us all with concern.
In perfect sync with his government’s then proposed draconian measure to force limits on the debate over assisted death, it took a very little bump indeed, just a little dawdling in returning to their seats, to get Mr. Trudeau to try to physically bully opponents into submission to his schedule.
Just as worrisome is the applause, and even standing ovations, he received from the large numbers of Liberal MPs who witnessed his actions. Apparently, the old Liberal party qualities of arrogance, entitlement and a low opinion of due democratic process are still thoroughly alive in this latest version of our government. Where will Mr. Trudeau’s muscle flexing regime take us in the next four years? Brian W. Brasier, Oshawa
What happened in the House of Commons was not a shining moment for Canadian politics. Trudeau’s actions were not exemplary. However, neither were those of the MPs who were blocking Gord Brown and intimidating and preventing him from doing his job. These actions were deplorable as well.
Mr. Trudeau has apologized. It is time for the MPs who were involved in this fracas to apologize to the Canadian people. Maybe the high road can be taken and a private member’s bill could be put forth that bans the intimidation of MPs using the tactics that were employed by New Democrat MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau and others. Like any civilized workplace, it is time for MPs to sit down, listen to their colleagues and let them do their job without being swarmed and intimidated. John Tovey, Maple, Ont.
The NDP, once the moral compass of our nation, the party of Stephen Lewis, Ed Broadbent and Bill Blaikie, has hit a new low. The silly antics of clearly trying to block the Conservative whip to get back to his seat, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair in the middle of it, suggests a change in leadership is critical.
Folks who have seen faked injury in sport will find themselves watching the footage only to see that it was following consultation with Mulcair that the extent of injury escalated.
Where among this schoolyard nonsense, designed to score a few cheap points, is the party of principle? It is Mulcair who is “pathetic” and he must go! Scott Fairweather, Toronto
The crux of the Canadian parliamentary system is healthy debate, and the incorporation of diverse views and perspectives from all political stripes. This basic tenet of our system of government was thrown to the wind with this incident.
When roadblocks are deliberately hurled in the way of healthy debate, and when the opposition is prevented from holding the government of the day to account, we need to take notice and speak up. While the “elbowgate” scandal may fade, our desire to uphold healthy and respectful debate should not. Rebecca Wagner, Toronto
Yes, criticize Justin Trudeau. What has not received adequate discussion is the role of the NDP in this matter. Mulcair and the members of his caucus were the initial cause of this problem. The films clearly show they deliberately delayed the Conservative party whip from accessing his seat in order to vote. The prime minister lost his cool at this mischief and went to free him from the NDP mesh. That’s where the apologies should have started. That’s is where they should end. Raymond Peringer, Toronto
I am not a Trudeau fan; I did not vote for him or for his father. However, I am annoyed by the various news media falling into lockstep on this story, concentrating on the fact that Trudeau broke with the decorum of Parliament and physically bumped another member with his elbow. Why is the story not that the NDP acted like schoolyard children who were not getting their way, and physically interfered with another member being able to take his seat so that Parliament could get on with the business of running the country? That to me is more important than what transpired as a result of their actions. Bill Wilson, Woodstock, Ont.
“Like any civilized workplace, it is time for MPs to sit down, listen to their colleagues and let them do their job without being swarmed and intimidated.” JOHN TOVEY MAPLE, ONT.
I had hoped that with the end of the Harper administration there would be the beginning of a new era: a spirit of co-operation with the smooth running of the country being the overriding guiding principle. A Parliament of civility where politicians of all political stripes work together, respecting each other’s point of view even if it is not their own.
How naive can I be? It is not for absence of reason that it is entrenched in our vocabulary that anything related to politics is shady and self-serving in intent. We have come to expect that. We vote every four years and then feel ignored. Shame, isn’t it? Timothy Phillips, Toronto
I’ve been elbowed harder than that on the streetcar in rush hour. And it was an accident. Honestly, are these the people who work in government that fragile? And short-sighted? Ridiculous! Women like that, who milk a situation because of their gender, embarrass me. As the ad says, “Get some lady balls, lady.” Lee-Ann Baker, Toronto
What were those MPs doing in the aisle of the legislature? Why were they not in their seats? Were they being obstructionist? Enough to bring out the disciplinarian in a person, I would say. Irma Orchard, Don Mills
To Trudeau: Get some sleep and you’ll feel better in the morning. I forgive you! Ellen Manney, Toronto
“On the Hill there was a kerfuffle When the PM got into a scuffle NDPs and PCs were dancing in step Blocking the way and one of them wept It’s known as the Parliament Shuffle.” Frank Feeley, Fonthill, Ont.
During his career, Mr. Harper was portrayed as a controller. If that is true, then what is this manifestation called? If any of us did this at work we would probably be charged with assault. Go figure. Z. Zavorsky, Port Hope, Ont.
Tory House leader Peter Van Loan railed that Mr. Trudeau had “physically molested” an MP. While Mr. Trudeau was right to apologize, Mr. Van Loan owes an apology to those who have experienced actual physical molestation. Greg Stock, Toronto
Rosie Di-Manno is bang on; what happened is pathetic. Brosseau was fine until Mulcair had a chat with her. The NDP created the situation and is too pathetic to own up to it. George Albert, Burlington
Kudos to Elizabeth May for calling it what it was: “Clearly an accident.” Mike Faye, Toronto
Poor Justin he can’t win. Imagine people accusing him of using the F-word like they did to his father. I wasn’t there but I’m sure everyone knows that he said Fuddle Duddle — just like his father. Joy Taylor, Scarborough
“Fuddle Duddle.” Déjà vu. Like father, like son. Lawrence B. Cohen, Toronto
What a game — and what a shame! Politicians like Brosseau and Mulcair are the ones who should be chided by the Speaker for trying to stage this drama. Mimi Khan, Toronto
To avoid such incidents in the future, it’s best they have “one way” and “speed limit” signs in the aisle separating the government from the opposition parties. Max Desouza, Toronto
In a mini-crisis, Trudeau’s mask fell off. Clearly he is a classic case of “arrested development,” mostly covered-up by much practiced play-acting. Yes, the signs were all there, but we ignored them, because the election was all about damage control: getting rid of the tired Harper regime.
Until we change our electoral system, we will always be strategically voting-out one of the two major parties, instead of voting for the best MP to represent us. D. Scott Barclay, Georgetown, Ont.
Even in hockey, elbowing is a minor penalty. How about the “interference” on the part of the NDP when the Conservative “enforcer” Brown tried to get back to his seat. Why hasn’t the NDP been taken to task for being the “instigator” of the brawl?
And how about the “bench clearing” on the part of the Liberals when it appeared that their captain may be in trouble surrounded by players from the opposing team. But the “instant replay” continues to focus on the elbowing infraction.
Although our prime minister should be given an “unsportsman-like conduct” penalty, he isn’t the only one who has embarrassed the entire hockey world. Donald Cangiano, Oakville
This is the new Parliament, as developed by Harper — hostility for the sake of hostility, and to hell with the country. Could we hold a new election and try to elect MPs who will work for the country, rather than their party at the expense of the country. Andy Turnbull, Toronto
So, our angelic prime minister has had his first parliamentary hissy fit. Should anyone be surprised? After all, wasn’t it Father Fuddle Duddle who introduced schoolchildren watching to his colourful language and, of course, the infamous “bird” sign?
After seeing the video replay of this altercation one too many times it all looked pretty tame to me. And bench clearing afterward is hardly comparable to what one expects at a typical Blue Jays-Texas Rangers baseball game.
Hopefully this summer, during their many months of idleness, Liberal MPs will get some much needed sensitivity training, For Brosseau and Brown, post-traumatic stress counselling, as required, and a few anger management lessons for Mulcair wouldn’t hurt either.
And when they all return tanned and well rested may they be mature, civil and dignified role models for our children to follow. Or will it just become round No. 2? Steven Clift, Whitby
The jostling that occurred was no more severe than normal Canadians experience trying to get a hotdog at a crowded baseball game or that commuters put up with every day during rush hour at busy subway stations. If we cried “assault,” we would be laughed out of the ballpark.
The MPs were acting like a bunch of preschoolers in a sand box and are further demonstrating how far removed they are from the real world most Canadians experience. Nicholas Stowell, Toronto
It’s just like the NDP to make such a big deal about Trudeau’s accidental brush against Brosseau in Parliament. I must have watched it 20 times — at both regular speed and slo-mo — and that’s what it was: no more than a brush.
Can you imagine what would have happened to her had she come up against a collision with Rob Ford like city Councillor Pam McConnell did when Rob was running like a bull in a china shop in council chambers.
This is very overblown and I’m disappointed that Mr. Trudeau had to humble himself to the degree he did with a very heavy apology. Marty Fruchtman, Toronto
As a woman who has witnessed and experienced the minimalization of valuable women in the workplace, I understand the impact of overly aggressive male behaviours. I, too, would have felt exposed, hurt and humiliated to be on the receiving end of such actions in such a public space. When I read men’s Twitter comments on Brosseau “taking a dive” to avoid the day’s vote, and newspaper contributors who said she was acting like a “fainting goat,” I was disgusted, but no amount of tweeting got through to the dinosaurs, young and old.
We have laws in Canada to deal with workplace bullying. Trudeau should not be above them. Perhaps a course in anger management is in order. Rosemary Lafreniere, Richmond
Justin Trudeau is a replica of his father Pierre Elliott Trudeau — arrogant and bullying! Even Harper never stooped so low as to start shoving people around in the Commons and using unacceptable language. Dave Platt, King City, Ont.
I am sure most Canadians do not condone physical solutions but I suspect that, like me, there was a tiny part that was saying “enough already! Stop the games and get on with the business you were elected to do!” And paid well-to-do I might add! Rochelle Hatton, Sudbury