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Do our political leaders lack emotional intelligence? If they do, should they be running our country?
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
Imagine a world where power and passion collide, where every choice carries weight, and every consequence reverberates through the lives of its characters. Welcome to “Canada: Beyond the Veil.”
As the story unfolds, viewers will find themselves drawn deeper into the labyrinthine plot, where every revelation brings new questions, and every twist leaves them on the edge of their seats. With its richly drawn characters, gripping narrative, and stunning visuals, “Canada: Beyond the Veil” is a must-watch for anyone craving a drama that transcends the ordinary.
I have spoken to individuals who live outside this country who question, “Simone, what is happening in Canada?” For me, it is such a loaded question.
On this episode of, “Canada: Beyond the Veil.”
On April 30th, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was kicked out of the House of Commons after refusing to apologize for calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a series of unparliamentary words such as “Wacko” and “Extremist.”
The drama began when Trudeau and Poilievre starting trading polite insults, the prime minister arguing that Poilievre was “shamefully” flirting with extremism when he was seen near the logo of far-right group Diagolon last week, and the Conservative Leader clapping back at Trudeau’s previous blackface pictures.
Poilievre refused to back down and replaced “Wacko” with “Extremist” and then with “Radical.”
“Mr. Poilievre,” Speaker Fergus concluded, “I have to name you for disregarding the authority of the chair. Pursuant to the authority granted to me, I order you to withdraw from the House and from any participation by videoconference for the remainder of this day’s sitting.”
The House then erupted as the Conservative leader left the chamber, followed slowly by his entire caucus.
Apparently, numerous political leaders have been having emotional outbursts at work. Conservative MP Rachael Thomas was the first MP to be expelled last week when she called Fergus’s handling of the House “Disgraceful” and refused to withdraw and apologize for the comment.
“Challenging the chair is against the rules of this House,” he told MP Thomas, who reiterated that Fergus was acting in a “Disgraceful” manner. Fergus expelled her shortly after.
A question that comes to mind at this point in the story is how are these outbursts being objectively handled? Stories have revealed that Prime Minister Trudeau did not face similar consequences from Speaker Fergus for his own remarks toward Poilievre calling him: “Spineless” and “White Supremist.”
In another instance of inappropriateness, in 2016, reportedly, Prime Minister Trudeau didn’t like the fact that MPs weren’t taking their seats quickly enough to his liking before a vote. He marched down the Chamber, grabbed the arm of Conservative Opposition Whip Gord Brown and elbowed NDP MP Ruth Ellen Braseau, telling other MPs to “Get the f*** out of my way” while marching Brown to his seat.
He has been the subject of multiple ethics violations complaints and been found guilty of violating federal ethics laws. A quick Google search will reveal what the Prime Minister has been accused of.
Conservative MPs outside of the chamber renewed calls for the House of Commons Speaker to resign, over ordering the Official Opposition leader to leave the chamber; this is something they attempted to do in December, 2023 – this time, for what they considered an unfair ruling.
“He should resign, he’s a disgrace,” Conservative MP Michael Cooper said.
On the Parliament of Canada website, there is a section where you can actually search what is said in the House of Commons. In one section called “Hansard Records,” there is a list of our political leaders who have used the “F-Bombs” across the floor in The House of Commons. These were all during times when Speaker Fergus was not the Speaker, so Conservative MP Michael Cooper needs to stop all of this.
I am unsure as to why the rules established in the House of Commons that promote respectful discourse are not being enforced. Do our political leaders lack emotional intelligence? If they do, should they be running our country?
It is common sense to me that as a member of the House of Commons you must use respectful language at all times when addressing fellow members, regardless of differences in opinion. There shouldn’t be any personal attacks, insults, or derogatory remarks directed at other members. Debates should focus on the issues at hand rather than attacking individuals or their character.
Any member found violating the respectful language requirement or engaging in personal attacks should face similar consequences. These consequences for violations must be applied consistently across the board, regardless of political affiliation or seniority.
It appears that our political leaders need to receive training and education on effective communication strategies, and conflict resolution techniques in order to foster a culture of respect and cooperation in the House of Commons.
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