York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan, King-Vaughan MP Deb Schulte weigh in on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's actions in House of Commons

Yorkregion.com
May 19, 2016
By Simon Martin

If you haven’t heard, there was fracas in the House of Commons yesterday involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of the opposition.

When you watch video of the incident, you will notice York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan had a front row seat to the whole thing. He was just a few feet away when Trudeau barrelled into a group of NDP MPs, who appeared to be delaying Parliamentary proceedings by blocking Conservative whip Gord Brown.

The incident certainly left a vivid impression on Van Loan.

“I was witness to an extraordinary example of just such physical intimidation by no less than the first minister of this country. I witnessed as he strode across the floor, with anger fierce in his eyes and face,” he said in a speech in Parliament. “What took place was the prime minister physically grabbing people, elbowing people, hauling them down the way.”

Van Loan said it wasn’t Trudeau’s job to try and move Parliamentary proceedings forward.

For his part, Trudeau apologized in Parliament.

“I apologize for that unreservedly. I look for opportunities to make amends directly to (Brosseau) and to any members who feel negatively impacted by this exchange and intervention because I take responsibility,” he said.

King-Vaughan MP Deb Schulte saw the episode as an unfortunate accident.

“What I witnessed was the prime minister striding across and coming to the group that was gathered and blocking the way of the Opposition House leader,” she said. “As he strode across, the group moved apart and he reached through and moved the House leader through. At the point that he did, he did bump into another member. However, I believe there was no intent to harm anyone or to actually bump into anyone.”