Pierre Poilievre ejected from House of Commons for calling Trudeau ‘wacko’ and ‘extremist’

After Official Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “a wacko” and “an extremist” during Question Period for decriminalizing the use of hard drugs in British Columbia, Speaker Greg Fergus ordered Poilievre to leave the House of Commons.

Fergus did not reprimand Trudeau, however, for claiming Poilievre was seeking the support of “extreme white nationalists.”

 

The Speaker appeared to be prepared to order Poilievre to leave as Fergus had a copy of the applicable House of Commons standing order by his side.

After sidestepping Poilievere’s question of legal drug use, Trudeau said, “What hasn't been answered by the Leader of the Opposition is why he chooses to continue to court extreme white nationalists, like Diagolon. He refuses to denounce these extremists who do believe Canadians should coexist with each other. Instead, they call for war and tell people to follow their instincts accordingly, the leader of the Conservative Party is actively courting the support of groups with white nationalist views. It is disturbing and he needs to stand up and apologize now.”

Poilievre noted Trudeau’s own personal record of performing in blackface at public and private functions.

“Mr. Speaker, I always condemn extremism and racism, including from the guy who spent the first half of his adult life as a practicing racist, dressing up in hideous racist costume.:

“And I condemn a Prime Minister who allows open use of crack heroin, meth and weapons in hospital rooms that threaten nurses and on school buses next to children,” Poilievre continued. Will the prime minister reverse his extremist policies? When will we put an end to this wacko policy by this wacko prime minister?”

At that point the Speaker intervened, asking Poilievre “to withdraw that term [wacko] which is not considered Parliamentary.”

Poiliever said he would “replace wacko with extremist” but that did not satisfy Fergus.

“I'm going to ask the Leader of the Opposition once again to just withdraw that comment,” he said.

Poilievre offered to replace the word "extremist" with "radical" but again Fergus declined that suggestion.

“I'm not asking you to replace; I'm asking you to just simply withdraw,” the Speaker said.

“Mr. Speaker, I replaced the word 'wacko' with 'extremist,'” Poilievre repeated.

“One last time to withdraw that comment,” Fergus declared.

When Poilievere refused to retract his statement, the Speaker reached for a copy of House of Commons Standing Orders and assumed his “authority of the chair pursuant to the authority granted to me by Standing Order 11” as he ordered Poilievre to leave the chamber.

After Poilievere left the House, Trudeau continued to claim that a carbon tax protest that Poilievere had supported was organized by a group called Diagolon, which in reality is nothing more than an internet chat site.

One of its members has actually threatened Poilievre’s wife, Anaida Poilievre, with sexual assault – supposedly in jest – and Poilievere has already denounced the group.

The ejection of an official oppositon leader from the House of Commons has brought criticism from many quarters, including former federal New Democratic Party leader Tom Mulcair who said he can't remember a Speaker acting in this manner and that Fergus should resign immediately.