The Speaker of the House of Commons has called on Conservative MP Garnet Genus to retract comments she made last week that the Liberal Party labeled homophobic.
Genuis rejected claims that his comments were meant to be homophobic. He claimed he was simply criticizing the government’s controversial policies. Purchased a luxury apartment for the Consul General in New York.
“We’re ready, but… [Genuis] True to my word,” he urged the MPs to retract their statements “at the earliest opportunity.”
“I would encourage people to reflect on how their words have been interpreted and recognize the confusion they have caused,” Fergus said.
Speaker Greg Fergus ruled that Conservative MP Garnet Genus should retract her comments “at the earliest possible opportunity”. Genuis last week denied allegations that he made homophobic comments about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during question period on Wednesday. Mr Fergus said he was prepared to take Mr Genui’s comments “at his word”.
During Question Period last Wednesday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poièvre cited features of the condo, including a “handcrafted copper bathtub.” Mr. Poièvre asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau whether Consul General Tom Clark visited his new official residence during his recent visit to the United States.
According to the House of Commons minutes, during Trudeau’s response, when the prime minister insisted that Clark’s role was to talk to international leaders on a variety of issues, an unnamed MP said, “He told them he was in the bathtub.” Are you going to have a dialogue with me?”, it is suggested that he yelled.
House of Commons video showed Alberta MP Genuis riding a horse in Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan and saying “bathtub”. Mike didn’t quite pick up the comment.
On Thursday, Genui stood up in the House of Commons and denied claims that his comments were homophobic.
“The point of this comment, of course, is to explain that meetings don’t take place in bathtubs. Luxury bathtubs have nothing to do with meetings,” he said.
“It had nothing to do with sex. I wasn’t thinking about sex at all.”
Conservative MP Garnet Genius has denied claims that she made homophobic comments about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a question session the previous day.
Lawmakers from the Liberal Party and the National Democratic Party had called on Genuis to retract his comments and apologize. Mr Genus was in the House of Commons for question period on Tuesday, but appeared to leave before Mr Fergus delivered his verdict.
Mr. Fergus also ordered Conservative MP Shuvaloi Majumdar to retract his comments about NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh last Friday.
In a statement, Majumdar called Singh a “traitorous NDP leader.”
Mr Fergus said on Tuesday that Mr Majumdar’s comments “constituted a personal attack” on Mr Singh. He noted that Majumdar had warned other members against using similar language days before he made his comments.
“As I said before, there are ways to get your point across without resorting to personal insults,” he said.
Mr Fergus said he would not recognize Mr Majumdar in the House of Commons until he recanted his statements.
Following the two rulings, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer questioned whether Mr Fergus was applying the rules fairly. Mr. Scheer noted that the speaker had initially asked Trudeau to retract his claim that Mr. Genuis’ comments were homophobic, and argued that the prime minister had failed to do so.
“We’re used to casual homophobic comments from the other side of the House,” Trudeau quipped after Genuis’ bathtub remarks.
At the time, Fergus said she heard the comments but didn’t know who made them. He implored MPs to “treat each other with honor and respect” but called on Prime Minister Trudeau to retract his comments.
Prime Minister Trudeau responded: “To stand up to bullies, sometimes you have to come down hard on their abuse. That’s what I’ll do.”
“If the member who suggested I shared a bathtub with Tom Clark stands up and takes responsibility, I will be happy to retract my comment.”
Prime Minister Trudeau said he would retract his “nonsense” comments, and Prime Minister Fergus confirmed he would continue in his role.
Mr Fergus said on Tuesday he had accepted Mr Scheer’s proposal as advised and would consider the matter.
