NDP MPs are calling on the Speaker to intervene after accusing some Conservative MPs of harassment and name-calling during a raucous late-night vote in the Commons on Thursday.
Lindsay Mathiesen accused Conservative MPs of behaving in a way that encouraged “toxicity” in the opposition lobby and on the floor.
Conservative MPs denied the accusations and claimed Mr Mathisen had been aggressive towards them.
Lawmakers gathered in the House of Commons late Thursday to debate and vote on federal policy. GST holiday invoicepassed around 11:30 p.m.
“The disrespect shown towards this place has led to confusion for our members, staff and pages, leading to a toxic environment and an unsafe workplace,” Matthiessen said.
“Conservative MPs kept abusing me, harassing me, trying to bully me. When I tried to speak or talk to the Speaker and the Conservatives kept shouting personal insults, how could I? Will I be able to work?”
Nearly 100 Conservative MPs were in the chamber last night.
NDP MP Lindsay Mathiesen said she was “harassed” by Conservative members after a late-night vote on the GST tax holiday. “The harassment is escalating,” Matthiessen told the House of Commons.
Mr Matthiessen said he was unable to have his name or the names of his colleagues given when called to vote on Thursday night due to the “generally destructive behavior of the Conservative Party”.
She also said she tried to raise her concerns with the chair but “nothing was done.”
Councilor Gray says he felt ‘threatened’
Meanwhile, Conservative MP for Calgary-Rosehill Michelle Rempel Garner said Matthiessen and two other NDP MPs, Blake Desjarlais and Bonita Zarrillo, were “standing in a very aggressive position. , he almost put his hand on his colleague’s face,” he told the chairman. Then the situation had to be de-escalated. He said the Conservative Party was prepared to provide video of the incident.
CBC News obtained video of the incident described by Rempel Garner.
“Expressing dissatisfaction with what people across the country are feeling right now should not be allowed to be glossed over by one member’s feelings being hurt,” Rep. Rempel Garner said during questioning. said.
She added: “The NDP is feeling the heat for choosing to continue supporting this corrupt government…That’s what they have to endure.”
Conservative MP Tracy Gray also claimed that Mr Mathisen had made “abuses” towards some Tory MPs and claimed he was inebriated despite not having been drinking.
“She came to my desk,” Gray said. “I felt physically threatened. I was actually in shock.”
On Friday afternoon, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May told CBC News that some Conservative MPs had been drinking and partying before voting.
“No one should come to Parliament under the influence of alcohol,” she said.
Conservative MP Luc Berthold later said May’s claims that the Conservatives were acting belligerently were “absolutely false”, referring to the recordings referred to by Rempel Garner.
“I never saw Ms. May in the lobby. I don’t know where she got her information,” he said.
After voting to introduce a new two-month GST tax cut, NDP MP Lindsay Mathiesen addressed the Speaker of the House and got into a shouting match with Conservative MPs.
