LETTER

Heckling in the House of Commons

 

I am replying to Ms Houle’s thoughtful letter on heckling in the House of Commons.

First, some context. I love Parliament: I love its traditions, people, history. I pinch myself every day as I walk past the Centennial flame toward the Peace Tower. I cannot think of a greater privilege than serving as the representative of the people of Hull-Aylmer.

I cannot say I enjoy Question Period, especially of late. The cat-calling, heckling, yelling, and mindless applauding leave me cold.
 
There is one thing I have contributed to the House: last June I suggested to my Liberal colleagues to stop applauding during Question Period in an effort to lower the anger in the House. The idea is that if we don’t applaud, and listen more, the other MPs will follow suit and - voilà! –  behaviour  would automatically improve.

We’re coming up on a year of not-applauding! It hasn’t been entirely perfect on our side, but, without exaggeration, Liberal MPs do not applaud or heckle during Question Period 95% of the time.
 
What are the advantages to no mindless applauding or heckling? First, it permits the Speaker (the “referee”) to hear what is being said. Second, it allows MPs – at least for Liberal and Green MPs – to hear what is being said by those who are addressing the House. Third, if there must be heckling, I hope that the more attentive we are, that there will be “a higher quality” heckling. For example, a witty turn of phrase, or self-deprecating comments.
 
This has not yet happened.

 It remains my hope that more MPs will realize how silly they look to Canadians when they carry on this foolishness. They don’t need any more proof than Ms Houle’s letter to the Bulletin.

The problem is that Canadians don’t blame specific MPs for boorish behaviour; they blame ALL Parliamentarians. This can only lower the esteem Canadians have for their politicians.
 
Ms Houle, I don’t have an answer to the problem you identified. All I can do is to conduct myself with the dignity that the people of Hull-Aylmer expect and hope that the constituents of the MPs across the aisle expect the same of their representatives.

Greg Fergus
Member of Parliament for Hull-Aylmer