Speaker apologizes for saying PC question about therapy contract question was out of line

Steve Lambert · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Apr 23, 2025 5:10 PM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

The Speaker of the Manitoba Legislature has apologized for saying an Opposition question was retired of enactment and is threatening to flip politicians from the enclosure if chaotic behaviour continues.

Tom Lindsey issued the apology connected Wednesday, a time aft question play descended into a shouting match.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives had asked about a Finance section declaration for therapy and suggested, without evidence, the therapy mightiness person been for Finance Minister Adrien Sala.

Members of the NDP authorities yelled "shame" and argued the question was retired of line, and the Speaker sided with them, saying the Tories can't inquire questions astir a idiosyncratic wellness issue.

Lindsey says helium was incorrect and legislature members person the close to inquire a wide scope of questions nether long-standing parliamentary rules.

He besides says that helium was ignored during the dust-up erstwhile helium called for bid and, if that happens again, immoderate politicians whitethorn find themselves retired of the chamber.

"Decorum successful this location was perfectly awful. At 1 point, the authorities beforehand seat was shouting truthful loudly that I had to outcry to beryllium heard," Lindsey said Wednesday.

"Yesterday was not the lone illustration of atrocious decorum I've seen successful this location recently, but it was astir assuredly the worst."

Legislature members listened softly arsenic Lindsey continued to admonish them.

"In the future, if members persist successful disregarding the authorization of the chair, I volition not hesitate to workout my authorization arsenic your Speaker and person members removed from this chamber," Lindsey said.

Tory Greg Nesbitt, who had asked the questions astir the contract, said helium simply wanted to cognize what therapy the authorities was spending wealth connected and that his close arsenic a legislature subordinate to inquire questions should not person been curtailed.

Shortly aft the cacophony Tuesday, the authorities told reporters the $10,000 declaration was for intelligence wellness supports for workers searching a landfill for the remains of murdered First Nations women.

Jeremy Skibicki was convicted past twelvemonth of sidesplitting 4 women, and the remains of 2 were precocious recovered astatine the landfill.

Before Lindsey's apology, NDP House person Nahanni Fontaine said Nesbitt's enactment of questioning that suggested a person was seeking therapy was "deplorable."

"If they were seeking therapy ... cipher should beryllium bringing that up successful the enclosure astatine all."