For several months, we have been witnessing, within the confines of the parliaments of Quebec and Ottawa, a disarray given both the acrimonious tone and the shocking terms used in the exchanges between the deputies. On the one hand, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, was expelled from the House of Commons for refusing to retract his remarks after calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an “extremist” and ” crazy.” On the other hand, Quebec Prime Minister François Legault aroused the ire of the opposition in the National Assembly by calling mayors “beggars” at a press briefing following their request for public funds. to compensate for the deficit caused by public transport.
However, notwithstanding the harmful effects of the bitter attacks of politicians, it is clear that they also have the collateral effect of adding fuel to the fire and, consequently, of outrageously inflaming the debates in the respective Chambers. Respect, civic-mindedness and moderation in the temples of the elected have lost their letters of nobility. Decorum has metamorphosed into a bellicose climate unworthy of the representatives of the people.
Our parliaments have abandoned decorum and forgotten their reason for existing, namely the use of a tone appropriate to the sometimes delicate subjects discussed there. Personal attacks literally have no place in parliaments. To this end, it becomes imperative that the presidents of the respective Chambers demonstrate credibility, failing which the climate will quickly take on the appearance of a combat arena to the detriment of the defense of the common good.
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