Conservative leader Pierre Poièvre was not allowed to speak in the House of Commons today as his public feud with Foreign Minister Melanie Joly spilled into its second day.
House Speaker Greg Fergus fined Mr Poièvre this morning, a day after he asked opposition leaders to retract comments he made yesterday accusing Mr Jolie of pandering to supporters of the terrorist group Hamas.
Poilievre made the comments during a question-and-answer session on Monday after calling on the Liberal Party to condemn what he called anti-Semitic and “genocidal chants by hateful mobs in the streets.”
Mr. Jolie responded by naming the seven Canadians killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and saying his government stands with Jews.
Poièvre said in her response that she did not actually condemn anti-Semitism in Canada, and refused to do so to score political points against her desire to run for the Liberal leadership. accused of doing so.
“Rather than carrying out her duties, she continues to pander to Hamas supporters and the Liberal Party as part of her leadership campaign,” he said.
Jolie accused Poièvre of “gaslighting” and playing politics on a day that was supposed to honor the victims of October 7.
“Clearly this man is not fit to be prime minister, because Canadians deserve a better place,” she said, calling on him to apologize.
All MPs, including the Liberals, on Monday supported a Conservative motion in the House of Commons condemning Hamas and anti-Semitism in Canada.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poièvre speaks at a commemoration event in solidarity with members of the Jewish community on the anniversary of hostilities on October 7, 2024 in Ottawa. Canadian Press/Spencer Colby
Mr. Fergus asked Mr. Poièvre to retract his comments about Jolie at the end of question period, and asked another lawmaker after Mr. Poièvre made similar comments that he was “pandering to an administration that most of us find disgusting.” He pointed out that he had asked for a retraction.
That MP, Ivan Baker, has not recanted his statement and has not been allowed to speak in the House of Commons since March.
Mr Fergus initially rejected the Liberal Party’s request to ban Mr Poilievre from speaking until he recanted, but changed his mind on Tuesday and issued a one-day ban. Fergus pointed out that this was not Poièvre’s first warning.
“In the past few months, MPs have twice during question period refused to listen to the Speaker’s decisions regarding non-parliamentary speech,” Mr Fergus said.
The first time, Mr. Poièvre was given a warning, and the second time, the Conservatives had a question removed from their daily quota.
“What happened yesterday is the third time this has happened,” Fergus said. “The Opposition (leader) should retract what he said during question period yesterday…If he is not willing to retract, the Speaker will not recognize him for the remainder of today.”
Fergus also said Tuesday that Baker’s punishment will end on Wednesday.
Poiivre has not yet retracted his statement and did not appear during question period on Tuesday.
He held a press conference earlier in the day in the lobby outside the House of Commons, blaming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party for the rise in anti-Semitism in Canada last year.
Poièvre said anti-Semitism began to rise in Canada before Oct. 7, 2023, and there have been conflicts in the Middle East in the past, but not in Canada.
Jolie appeared at Poièvre’s door shortly after, calling him hypocritical and unfit to rule the country.
Sarah Fisher, head of communications for the Conservative Party, expressed her anger at X over the punishment.
“What a blatant affront to democracy,” she said. “If you can’t beat them, shut them up, okay?”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024.
