Justin Trudeau's elbowing incident leaves House in an uproar

Prime Minister Justin Trudeauwasaccused of "manhandling" Opposition whip GordBrown and elbowing NDP MP RuthEllenBrosseauin the House of Commons as MPs gathered for a vote on the government's assisted-dying bill Wednesday afternoon.

In video from the House, Trudeau is seen walking toward Brown in a crowd of MPs in the Commonsaisle, taking his arm in an apparent effort to move Brown towardhis seat. While doing so, he encountered Brosseau, who was also standing in the aisle and was seen physically reactingafter thecontact.

"I was trying to start the vote, the prime minister grabbed my arm. I immediately told the prime minister to let go of me now," Brown said in a statement released later. "Immediately afterward, the prime minister went back down the aisle of the House to confront other members of opposition parties."

"I later told the prime minister he should NOT have gotten out of his seat," Brown added.

Justin Trudeau's actions cause uproar in House

8 years ago

Duration 0:41

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau grabs Tory MP Gord Brown and also appears to bump NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau in the House of Commons Wednesday.

NDP House leader Peter Julian accusedTrudeauof "manhandling" Brown, as MPs on all sides of the House shouted and SpeakerGeoffReganstruggled to regain order.

NDP MPTraceyRamsey said the prime minister swore as he approached Brown andthe opposition benches. "He said 'Get the bleep out of the way,'" she said, adding Trudeau "violently" grabbed Brown.

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Sources told CBC News that Trudeau used the F-word a profane utterance that decades earlier landed his father, Pierre Trudeau, in hot water in the same House of Commons.

But it was Trudeau's actions that provoked the most concern and anger from opposition benches.

'You're pathetic!'

MPs were just about to voteon time allocation for Bill C-14, the government's physician-assisteddying legislation.

The prime minister later said he felt Brown was walking too slowly ahead of the vote.

After the incident, the prime minister again crossed the floor and engaged in a loud and heated conversation with NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.

"What kind of man elbows a woman? It's pathetic! You're pathetic!"Mulcaircan be heard on tape shouting atTrudeau.

An emotional Brosseau said later in the House that she had been "elbowed in the chest by the prime minister," bringing Trudeau to his feet once again to "apologize unreservedly."

Brosseau said she was so upset from the incidentthat she had to leave the chamber, subsequently missing the vote.

NDP MP Brosseau: 'I was elbowed in the chest'

8 years ago

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An emotional NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau describes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's actions in the House of Commons from her point of view.

Her NDP MP colleagueNiki Ashtonsaid she was deeply troubled by Trudeau's actions.

"Iam ashamed to be a witness to the person who holds the highest position in our country do such an act.I want to say that for all of us who witnessed this, this was deeply traumatic. What I will say, if we apply a gendered lens, it is very important that young women in this space feel safe to come here and work here," she said.

"He made us feel unsafe and we're deeply troubled by the conduct of the prime minister of this country."

Because the incident happened before a vote, former prime ministerStephen Harper, who is otherwise rarely in the chamber, witnessed the entire incident unfold.He can be seen on tape observing the altercation with a cocked eyebrow and a bemused expression on his face.

'Unadvisable course of actions'

Justin Trudeau apologizes to Ruth Ellen Brosseau

8 years ago

Duration 1:43

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologizes to NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau, and the House, for his actions in the Commons.

In a second attempt at an apology, Trudeausaid he took full responsibility for the "unadvisable course of actions."

"I want to take the opportunity to be able to express directly to [Brosseau] my apologies for my behaviour and my actions, unreservedly. The fact is, in this situation, where I saw I noticed that the whip opposite was being impeded in his progress, I took it upon myself to go and assist him forward, which I can now see was unadvisable as a course of actions that resulted in physical contact in this House that we can all acceptwas unacceptable," he said.

"I look for opportunities to make amends directly to the member and to any members who feel negatively impacted by this exchange and intervention."

Peter Julian: 'physical force in this House is never permitted'

8 years ago

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NDP MP Peter Julian reacts to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's actions in the House of Commons.

Julian said later what transpired was simply unacceptable.

"There isnot a parallel in contemporary Canadianhistory. We hear about members becoming physical in other countries but that is not Canada," Julian said as MPs raised points of privilege after the vote.

Conservative MP Peter Van Loan said it was an "extraordinaryexample of physical intimidation."

"I witnessed as [Trudeau] strode across the floor with an anger fierce, in his face and eyes, towards a group of individuals. What took place was the prime minister physically grabbing people, elbowing people, hauling them down the way," he said.

Opposition leader Rona Ambrose posted a statement Facebooksaying Trudeau"demonstrated a complete lack of respect for members of the House of Commons, and for Parliament."

"No one should ever have to deal with this kind of behaviour in any workplace. The fact that it's the prime minister of Canada is embarrassing. He should be ashamed of his actions," she said.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said she witnessed "mischief" on the floor leading up to the incident, and added she saw the prime minister approach Brosseau to offer an apology shortly after the altercation.

Elizabeth May describes House fracas

8 years ago

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Green Party MP Elizabeth May describes what happened in the House during the fracas with Justin Trudeau from her vantage point in the Commons.

"It was most unwise of the prime minister to attempt to move along the vote by moving along [Brown]. That movement was clearly a contact that was unwanted. But the second contact, which was certainly the one that was the most emotional for the member involved, was clearly from my perspective I confirm unintentional," she said of the prime minister's encounter with Brosseau.

"And I have to say, I saw the prime minister approaching and following the honourable member, trying to reach her and sayinghow very sorry he was, he had not seen her behind him," May said.

Later, at an event celebrating the government's official apology for theKomagata Maruincident, the prime minister apologized again and acknowledged that his behaviour in the House would overshadow the historical reckoning.

"I'm certainly someone who knows that sometimesit's a challenge to always be positive and bewelcoming. And indeed I'm going to apologize again for an incident in the House this evening that might take away a little bit in the news tomorrow and, for some people, the extraordinary celebration that today is for that I truly regret."

Peter Van Loan: Trudeau had 'anger fierce in his eyes'

8 years ago

Duration 1:56

Conservative MP Peter Van Loan describes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's actions in the House of Commons from his seat near the fracas.