Speaker disapproves of NDP heckling but dismisses formal complaint
Shouts of 'shame' lead to admonishment for better legislature behaviour
The Speaker of the Manitoba Legislature dismissed a Progressive Conservative complaint about NDP heckling even as she expressed disapproval of the behaviour and suggested it could be construed as intimidation.
In a ruling issued on Monday afternoon, Speaker Myrna Driedger said shouts of "shame" directed by NDP MLAs James Allum, Andrew Swan and Rob Altemeyer at female Tory MLAs during a vote on Oct. 6 did not prevent any MLA from doing their job.
Fort Richmond MLA Sarah Guillemard complained about the behaviour, noting the opposition MPs did not shout at her male colleagues. Swan and Allum apologized for their behaviour the following day.
Driedger said Guillemard did not make her complaint at the first opportunity, which is required when an MLA asserts a point of privilege. Driedger still admonished MLAs for poor behaviour in the legislature and demanded all elected officials remain silent during recorded votes.
"I must state as plainly as I am able that I do not approve of such behaviour in this place," the Speaker said.
Driedger also rejected a separate, untimely Tory complaint about an interview with St. John's NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine that suggested the Speaker was acting in a partisan manner. Fontaine apologized for her comments
"In the future, I would urge members to raise issues in a timely manner, as the failure to do so can impact determination of the orderliness of the issue raised," Driedger said.
Driedger also admonished Tory and NDP MLAs for speaking to the media about points of privilege before she rules on them.
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister and NDP house leader Jim Maloway accepted the rulings.
"I thought she ruled perfectly and admonishing misbehaving members is a positive thing. And I think we're going to try to benefit and learn something from that and act a little better than we have," Maloway said.
Driedger has yet to rule on a third complaint raised by Tory Culture, Heritage and Sport Minister Rochelle Squires, who claimed Altemeyer yelled "take your pants off" at her during question period on Oct. 6.
Altemeyer said he actually said "take a pass on it."