Tempers flared in Ottawa yesterday. The usually unruly question period in the House of Commons got beyond the Commons Speaker’s limited control. Unparliamentary language was heard and recorded. Justin Trudeau MP was heard calling Conservative Environment Minister Peter Kent “A piece of shit.” While not wishing to disagree with the young Trudeau, one appreciates that he was immediately contrite about such a remark. The only thought that comes to mind is wondering just how spontaneous the shouted remark might have been.
When Justin’s father was Prime Minister, he was also once accused of directing a crudity at another erstwhile Conservative of the day. In keeping with the times, Pierre Trudeau knew to deny everything and to introduce the term “fuddle-duddle” to Canadians. Everyone knew that he had mouthed a very basic message to “fuck off” to the MP who was annoying him but the honour of the House was upheld by the denial.
But there is no honour in today’s House of Commons. There is even less honour in the now Conservative-dominated Senate of Canada. Canada’s Parliament is run by one man. Prime Minister Harper makes the rules and his lackey’s try to enforce them. It is not just that the House must endure the fabrications of Defence Minister MacKay and the chicanery of Treasury Board President Clement but to have Environment Minister Kent so lamely trying to stonewall questions from the Opposition could try the patience of saints. Somebody will have to tell Harper: ‘Kent can’t do it.’
When Pierre Trudeau once famously noted that Conservative MPs are nobodies when 50 yards from Parliament Hill, he had obviously not met the current crop of nobodies. He would have used stronger language if he had to deal with these nebishes.
To young Trudeau, the challenge today is to cash in on his famous father while building his own strengths and awareness among Canadians. He has to be his own man if he wants to carry on the dynasty. He made the point clearly when he so quickly apologized for his unparliamentary language. He knew that today, he was best to acknowledge what he said and he was not all that contrite.
What Justin really did was to steal the headlines from the NDP Opposition in the Commons and win the issue of the day. Well played sir!
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Copyright 2011 © Peter Lowry
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