In a move that could only be described as ironic, House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus was faced with heckling during a speech on Wednesday addressing the very issue of heckling and a deteriorating sense of order in the chamber.
The drama unfolded shortly after 2:20 p.m. EDT when, deviating from the schedule, Fergus rose from his chair to “make a statement about order and decorum in the House.” This immediately led to friction on the floor, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attempting to start his first question to the government. Fergus was forced to interrupt, stating, “The Speaker has the choice as to when to start question period. There will be a full question period that will follow after this declaration from the Speaker.”
Michael Cooper, a Conservative MP, vocally contested the delay, followed by former House Speaker and now Conservative House Leader, Andrew Scheer. Scheer referenced House rules, stating that question period was expected to begin “no later than 2:15 p.m.”
Pushing forward, Fergus acknowledged the occasional tardiness of the start of question period and cited past precedent to defend his decision, backed by nods from the Liberal benches. Undeterred, Poilievre implored the Speaker to allow question period to proceed, saying, “The Speaker has a plethora of occasions to stand on his feet and make any point he wants or any declaration he likes. He does not need to do it in the middle of the sacred period during which we hold the government to account.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre claimed he had never before seen a Speaker try to make a statement before question period. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Throughout his speech, Fergus highlighted the “deterioration in the collective decorum in this place.” Amidst his call for civility, Fergus was met with further heckling, including an interruption by Conservative MP Chris Warkentin, questioning if the Speaker was “filibustering.”
In response to the disruptions, Fergus remarked, “Excessive, disruptive, and loud heckling must be toned down. Occasional heckling has always been a part of our proceedings, and a light-hearted or clever comment will often enhance debate rather than detract from it.” However, he noted that “far too often heckling is boorish and rude, designed to intimidate, insult, or drown out others.”
He ended his remarks by expressing gratitude to the members “for their attention” and promised ongoing discussions with all parties to improve parliamentary behavior.
The disruptions culminated in question period commencing at 2:45 p.m. EDT, a full 30 minutes behind the planned schedule.
Fergus, a former parliamentary page and only two weeks into his role as House Speaker, has been vocal about his intent to address and rectify the declining standards of order and decorum within the chamber. Wednesday’s events only seem to underline the urgency and relevance of his mission.
