Opposition leader expelled for calling Canadian PM 'wacko'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
1 May 2024 22:09

Pierre Poilievre, a conservative member, declines to retract his "wacko" comment, leading to a reprimand from the speaker and expulsion from the House of Commons.

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre waving on a horse (AP)

The head of Canada's primary opposition party was ousted from the House of Commons after referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "a wacko", marking another confrontation between the two figures ahead of next year's election.

The situation unfolded as Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservatives, criticized Trudeau's backing of initiatives in British Columbia aimed at decriminalizing certain hard drugs to curb overdose fatalities.

“When will we put an end to this wacko policy by this wacko prime minister?," he inquired of Trudeau during the session in the House of Commons.

Pierre Poilievre is RIGHT. Justin Trudeau is a whacko, extremist, radical.

Raise your hand if you agree 🖐️pic.twitter.com/F6MrN3N9qp
— Mark Slapinski (@mark_slapinski) April 30, 2024

Speaker Greg Fergus, a member of the Liberal Party, informed Poilievre that his remark was not fitting for parliamentary discourse and urged him four times to retract it. However, Poilievre persistently refused, opting instead to substitute the term with "extremist" or "radical".

Fergus informed Poilievre that he was ignoring the speaker's authority and, in a rare action, remarked, “I order to you to withdraw from the House … for the remainder of this day’s sitting.”

Poilievre, along with his fellow legislators, exited the chamber and later reiterated his criticism of Trudeau's position on drug policy.

“This is a wacko policy from a wacko PM that’s destroying lives,” he said in a post on social media.

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Last week, British Columbia altered its approach to drug policy, reinstating a prohibition on public drug use, while maintaining allowances for personal possession and consumption in private settings.

Liberal MP Steven MacKinnon, responsible for government affairs in the House, described the incident as shameful and indicative of a lack of respect for institutions.

Trudeau and Poilievre have a strained relationship, with Trudeau labeling Poilievre as an "extremist" and a proponent of Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trudeau addressed reporters and alleged that Poilievre had associated with far-right organizations.

“That is not responsible leadership. That is dangerous for democracy, it’s dangerous for Canadians,” he said.

Expulsions from the House are infrequent occurrences. The speaker's office did not provide immediate commentary on the most recent instance of a leader of the official opposition being ejected.

The upcoming election is mandated to take place by late October 2025. Polls reflecting public sentiment suggest that the Conservatives would secure a substantial majority over the center-left Liberals, who have held power since November 2015.