Conservative Leader Pierre Poirierbre and New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh got into a heated exchange in the House of Commons on Thursday, just minutes after Singh announced that he would not support the Conservative party’s first motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.
“He’s a fake, a con man and a fraud. Who can believe anything this traitorous NDP leader says anymore?” Poirierbre told Singh during the question-and-answer session, directing his questions to Singh rather than government officials.
As he did so, heckles were heard from NDP MPs, including complaints that the question had nothing to do with government business.
In response, Singh, who was sitting on the same side of the chamber as Poirierbre, shouted at the opposition leader, eliciting jeers and cheers from across the chamber.
House Speaker Greg Fergus suspended the proceedings for a few minutes to maintain order in the chamber.
The microphones on the live broadcast from the House of Commons chamber were muted and the cameras did not switch focus from the speaker’s chair, but as spectators in the bleachers above the chamber could see, Mr Singh stood up and continued speaking, pointing at Mr Poirievre from the floor.
“The Speaker did not hear but I suspect there were some heated words exchanged between members,” Fergus said after the tense moment, reminding all MPs that Question Time was meant to hold the Government to account, not the Opposition.
“I urge all members of parliament to remember that Canadians are watching us and to act in a way that is worthy of their constituencies and the country as a whole.”
The two leaders left the chamber immediately after the exchange.
The simmering tension between the two leaders erupted shortly after Prime Minister Singh announced the NDP would support the Liberal government in next week’s no-confidence vote.
The motion was already expected to fail after the Bloc Québécois announced Wednesday it would vote against the Conservative party’s attempt to force early elections.
Singh said the party’s decision to support the Liberals was to oppose potential Conservative cuts to programs such as dental care and pharmaceutical benefits.
“The decisions coming up are very important for Canadians and the middle class,” Singh said. “That’s why we’re not going to let Pierre Poirievre dictate what we do. We’re not going to listen to someone who wants to cut back on things that Canadians need.”
Singh was repeatedly asked by reporters on Thursday how he would support the Trudeau government just weeks after pulling out of the party’s supply and confidence agreement.
“I stand by my word… Mr Trudeau has let you all down and does not deserve another chance,” Singh said.
Asked whether the NDP’s support meant the party was giving Trudeau another chance, Singh said “not at all.”
“Canadians will have to make that decision at election time, and at election time I want to be very clear that I don’t believe Justin deserves a second chance.”
After the question and answer session, Poiriervre stepped up to a microphone in the House of Commons foyer and repeated the same attack line he used in the House of Commons, accusing Singh of making a tape recording of a deal with Trudeau after the by-election.
With files from CTV News Rachel Haynes
